Premier Soccer League

Premier Soccer League (PSL) is the trading name of the National Soccer League (NSL) of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA. The next highest league is the National First Division.
The PSL is currently ranked 14th in Africa, according to CAF's 5-Year Ranking
==History==
The PSL was founded by Kaizer Motaung, Irvin Khoza, Raymond Hack and Jomo Sono, in 1996. Manning Rangers were the first to be crowned champions of the PSL in 1997 when the Gordon Igesund-coached side was stunning all and sundry by winning the title ahead of a number of more fancied opponents. 
From 1998 to 2000 the league was dominated by Sundowns, who pulled off a hat-trick of titles. 
In 2001, Igesund moved to Orlando Pirates and helped the Buccaneers secure the title. The following season he moved to Cape Town-based Santos, and steered it to win the league title, thus becoming the first coach to win the championship with three different clubs. 
The 11 April 2001 marked a dark chapter in South African history when 43 people lost their lives and 158 others were injured in a stampede during a match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at an overcrowded Ellis Park Stadium. 
The league was reduced from 18 to 16 teams after the end of the 2001-02 season to avoid fixture congestion, causing two teams, Ria Stars and Free State Stars, to be disbanded.
In 2004, a match-fixing scandal rocked South African soccer. An investigation codenamed "Operation Dribble" was launched by the South African police in June 2004. More than 40 arrests were made, ranging from club bosses to match commissioners, referees and their assistants. 
Kazier Chiefs successfully defended their league title in 2005 after they won the prestigious trophy in 2004 for the first time in a decade.
The 2005-06 season saw Mamelodi Sundowns capturing the title for the fourth time.
In 2007, the PSL signed a television deal with SuperSport worth R1.6-billion. It is the biggest sporting deal in the history of South Africa, and it took the PSL into the top 15 ranked leagues in the world in terms of commercial broadcast deals.
In the same year ABSA replaced Castle Lager as name sponsor.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010 Supersport United won a hat-rick of title.
The league currently has teams in most of the countries largest cities, with Port Elizabeth being the obvious exception. The city has not had a team in the PSL since the 2008–09 Premier Soccer League, when the city's Bay United F.C. were relegated.
The league is rated as the 14th best in Africa in 2011. This is according to the CAF 5-Year Ranking system. The provisional 2012 rankings currently place them as slipping to 15th, below Niger.
==Sponsorship==
Since its inception in 1996, the Premier Soccer League has been sponsored. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:
* 1996-07: Castle Lager (Castle Premiership)
* 2007-: ABSA (ABSA Premiership)
==Format==
There are sixteen clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season (which lasts from August to May) each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 30 games for each club. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat.
The champion of the Premier League and the second placed team advance to the MTN CAF Champions League, the third placed team, and the Nedbank Cup champions, advance to the CAF Confederation Cup, which is the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
The bottom team in the ABSA Premiership is automatically relegated. The team finishing 15th on the log enters a playoff with the loser of the promotion playoff between the winner of the Coastal Stream and the Inland Stream and the two teams who ended the season in second spot in the two streams.
==Media coverage==
The league's main broadcast partner is Super Sport. Supersport have in turn sub leased the rights to certain matches to the SABC, so that matches can be shown on public television.
Supersport broadcast matches on Wednesday and Friday nights, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. The SABC broadcast Wednesday afternoon matches, as well as Saturday and Sunday matches.
==2011-12 season==
===Clubs===
*Ajax Cape Town 
*AmaZulu 
*Bidvest Wits 
*Black Leopards (newly promoted)
*Bloemfontein Celtic
*Free State Stars 
*Golden Arrows 
*Jomo Cosmos (newly promoted)
*Kaizer Chiefs 
*Mamelodi Sundowns
*Maritzburg United
*Moroka Swallows
*Orlando Pirates 
*Platinum Stars 
*Santos 
*Supersport United
===Standings===
==Past seasons==
===Previous Winners, Runners-up and Relegated/Promoted Teams===
Season 	Winner 	Runner-up 	Relegated at end of season 	Promoted at end of season
1996-97	Manning Rangers 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Michau Warriors; Witbank Aces 	Santos, African Wanderers
1997-98	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Kaizer Chiefs 	African Wanderers; Real Rovers 	Seven Stars, Dynamos
1998-99	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Dynamos; Vaal Professionals 	African Wanderers, Tembisa Classic
1999-00	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Orlando Pirates 	AmaZulu; Mother City 	Golden Arrows, Ria Stars
2000-01	Orlando Pirates 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Bloemfontein Celtic; African Wanderers	Amazulu, Black Leopards
2001-02	Santos 	Supersport United	AmaZulu; Tembisa Classic 	African Wanderers, Dynamos
2002-03	Orlando Pirates 	Supersport United	Bush Bucks; African Wanderers 	Amazulu, Silver Stars
2003-04	Kaizer Chiefs 	Ajax Cape Town 	Hellenic; Zulu Royals 	Bush Bucks, Bloemfontein Celtic
2004-05	Kaizer Chiefs 	Orlando Pirates 	Manning Rangers; Wits University 	Free State Stars, Tembisa Classic
2005-06	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Orlando Pirates 	Free State Stars; Bush Bucks 	Wits University, Benoni Premier United
2006-07	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Platinum Stars 	Maritzburg United 	Free State Stars
2007-08	Supersport United 	Ajax Cape Town 	Black Leopards; Jomo Cosmos 	Maritzburg United, Bay United
2008-09	Supersport United 	Orlando Pirates 	Bay United; Thanda Royal Zulu 	Jomo Cosmos, Mpumalanga Black Aces
2009-10	Supersport United 	Mamelodi Sundowns	Jomo Cosmos 	Vasco da Gama
2010-11	Orlando Pirates F.C.	Ajax Cape Town 	Mpumalanga Black Aces, Vasco da Gama 	Jomo Cosmos, Black Leopards
=== Most Wins ===
Team 	Wins
Mamelodi Sundowns	5
Orlando Pirates 	3
Supersport United	3
Kaizer Chiefs 	2
Manning Rangers 	1
Santos 	1
==Manager records==
=== League winning managers ===
Season 	Winner 	Manager
1996-97	Manning Rangers 	Gordon Igesund
1997-98	Mamelodi Sundowns	Ted Dumitru
1998-99	Mamelodi Sundowns	Ted Dumitru
1999-00	Mamelodi Sundowns	Paul Dolezar
2000-01	Orlando Pirates 	Gordon Igesund
2001-02	Santos 	Gordon Igesund
2002-03	Orlando Pirates 	Roy Barreto
2003-04	Kaizer Chiefs 	Ted Dumitru
2004-05	Kaizer Chiefs 	Ted Dumitru
2005-06	Mamelodi Sundowns	Neil Tovey
2006-07	Mamelodi Sundowns	Gordon Igesund
2007-08	Supersport United	Gavin Hunt
2008-09	Supersport United	Gavin Hunt
2009-10	Supersport United	Gavin Hunt
2010-11	Orlando Pirates 	Ruud Krol
==League records==
*Most PSL titles: 5 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1997/98), (1998/99), (1999/00), (2005/06), (2006/07)
*Biggest PSL win: 8-1 – Supersport United vs Zulu Royals (2003/04)
*Most goals scored in a season: 73 – Kaizer Chiefs (1998/99)
*Most goals conceded in a season: 85 – Mother City (1999/00)
*Most points in a season: 75 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1999/00)
==League Participants==
1996/97 	1997/98 	1998/99 	1999/00 	2000/01 	2001/02 	2002/03 	2003/04 	2004/05 	2005/06 	2006/07 	2007/08 	2008/09 	2009/10 	2010/11 	
 	African Wanderers 	 	African Wanderers 	African Wanderers 	 	African Wanderers 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amazulu 	Amazulu 	Amazulu 	Amazulu 	 	AmaZulu 	 	 	Amazulu 	 	Amazulu 	Amazulu 	Amazulu 	Amazulu 	Amazulu 	
 	 	 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	Ajax Cape Town 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Bay United 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Benoni Premier United 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Bidvest Wits University 	Bidvest Wits University 	Bidvest Wits University 	Bidvest Wits University 	Bidvest Wits University 	
 	 	 	 	 	Black Leopards 	Black Leopards 	Black Leopards 	Black Leopards 	Black Leopards 	Black Leopards 	Black Leopards 	 	 	 	
Bloemfontein Celtic	Bloemfontein Celtic	Bloemfontein Celtic	Bloemfontein Celtic	Bloemfontein Celtic 	 	 	 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	Bloemfontein Celtic 	
Cape Town Spurs 	Cape Town Spurs 	Cape Town Spurs 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Dynamos 	 	 	 	Dynamos 	Dynamos 	Dynamos 	Dynamos 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	Free State Stars 	Free State Stars 	Free State Stars 	 	 	 	Free State Stars 	 	Free State Stars 	Free State Stars 	Free State Stars 	Free State Stars 	
Hellenic 	Hellenic 	Hellenic 	Hellenic 	Hellenic 	Hellenic 	Hellenic 	Hellenic 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	Jomo Cosmos 	 	Jomo Cosmos 	 	
Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	Kaizer Chiefs 	
 	 	 	 	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	Lamontville Golden Arrows	
Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	Mamelodi Sundowns 	
Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	Manning Rangers 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Maritzburg United 	 	Maritzburg United 	Maritzburg United 	Maritzburg United 	
Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	Moroka Swallows 	
 	 	 	Mother City 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Mpumalanga Black Aces 	 	
Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	Orlando Pirates 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Platinum Stars 	Platinum Stars 	Platinum Stars 	Platinum Stars 	
Qwa Qwa Stars 	Qwa Qwa Stars 	Qwa Qwa Stars 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Real Rovers 	Real Rovers 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Ria Stars 	Ria Stars 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	Santos 	
 	 	Seven Stars 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Silver Stars 	Silver Stars 	Silver Stars 	Silver Stars 	 	 	 	 	
Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	Supersport United 	
 	 	 	Thembisa Classic 	Thembisa Classic 	Thembisa Classic 	 	 	 	Thembisa Classic 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Thanda Royal Zulu 	Thanda Royal Zulu 	 	 	
Umtata Bush Bucks 	Umtata Bush Bucks 	Umtata Bush Bucks 	Umtata Bush Bucks 	Umtata Bush Bucks 	Umtata Bush Bucks 	Umtata Bush Bucks 	 	 	 	Umata Bush Bucks 	 	 	 	 	
Vaal Professionals 	Vaal Professionals 	Vaal Professionals 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Vasco Da Gama 	
Warriors 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Witbank Aces 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	Wits University 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Zulu Royals 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1996/97 	1997/98 	1998/99 	1999/00 	2000/01 	2001/02 	2002/03 	2003/04 	2004/05 	2005/06 	2006/07 	2007/08 	2008/09 	2009/10 	2010/11 	
18 teams 	18 teams 	18 teams 	18 teams 	18 teams 	18 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	16 teams 	
==Top goalscorers==
Season 	Player 	Goals	Team 	Source
1996–97	Wilfred Mugeyi 	22 	Bush Bucks 	
1997–98	Daniel Mudau 	24 	Sundowns 	
1998–99	Pollen Ndlanya 	21 	Orlando Pirates	
1999–00	Dennis Lota 	18 	Orlando Pirates	http://www.sportscheduler.co.sz/psl_goalscorers00.htm
2000–01	Gilbert Mushangazhike	19 	Manning Rangers	http://www.sportscheduler.co.sz/psl_goalscorers01.htm
2001–02	Ishmael Maluleke 	18 	Manning Rangers	http://www.sportscheduler.co.sz/psl_goalscorers02.htm
2002–03	Lesley Manyathela 	18 	Orlando Pirates	http://www.sportscheduler.co.sz/psl_goalscorers03.htm
2003–04	Jackie Ledwaba 	14 	Zulu Royals 	http://www.sportscheduler.co.sz/psl_goalscorers04.htm
2004–05	Collins Mbesuma 	25 	Kaizer Chiefs 	http://www.thepsl.co.za/content.asp?id=16475
2005–06	Mame Niang 	14 	Swallows 	http://www.thepsl.co.za/content.asp?id=16476
2006–07	Chris Katongo 	15 	Jomo Cosmos 	http://www.thepsl.co.za/content.asp?id=16477
2007–08	James Chamanga 	14 	Swallows 	http://www.thepsl.co.za/content.asp?id=16478
2008–09	Richard Henyekane 	19 	Golden Arrows 	http://www.psl.co.za/scorers.asp?id=794&s=3
2009–10	Katlego Mphela 	17 	Sundowns 	
2010–11	Knowledge Musona 	15 	Kaizer Chiefs 	
==Notable Current Players==
Footballers who currently play for PSL clubs, and have represented their country at senior international level:
* Dipsy Selolwane (Supersport United)
* Eduardo Ferreira (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Francis Chansa (Mpumalanga Black Aces)
* Félix Mwamba Musasa (Mpumalanga Black Aces)
* Musa Otieno (Santos)
* Anthony Laffor (Supersport United)
* Almiro Lobo (Platinum Stars)
* Domingues (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Elias Pelembe (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Sydney Plaatjies (Mpumalanga Black Aces)
* Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Emile Baron (Supersport United)
* Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Bradley Carnell (Supersport United)
* Lerato Chabangu (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Kermit Erasmus (Supersport United)
* Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town)
* Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town)
* Rowen Fernández (Supersport United)
* Stanton Fredericks (Wits)
* Morgan Gould (Supersport United)
* Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates)
* Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)
* Mabhuti Khenyeza (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows)
* Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Daine Klate (Supersport United)
* Lee Langeveldt (Santos)
* Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Mbulelo Mabizela (Platinum Stars)
* Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates)
* Benson Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates)
* Teko Modise (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Sthembiso Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Matthew Pattison (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows)
* Gert Schalkwyk (Orlando Pirates)
* MacBeth Sibaya (Moroka Swallows)
* Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Benedict Vilakazi (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Excellent Walaza (Vasco da Gama)
* Sibusiso Zuma (Vasco da Gama)
* Denis Onyango (Mpumalanga Black Aces)
* José Torrealba (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates)
* Collins Mbesuma (Moroka Swallows)
* Clifford Mulenga (Mpumalanga Black Aces)
* Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars)
* Kampamba Chintu (AmaZulu)
* Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars)
* Davies Nkausu (Supersport United)
* Zhaimu Jambo (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Tapuwa Kapini (Platinum Stars)
* Oscar Machapa (Moroka Swallows)
* Nyasha Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Knowledge Musona (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Method Mwanjali (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Tinashe Nengomasha (Kaizer Chiefs)
* Esrom Nyandoro (Mamelodi Sundowns)
* Tafadzwa Rusike (Ajax Cape Town)
* Thomas Sweswe (Kaizer Chiefs)
==Current Products==
Footballers who have previously played for PSL clubs, and currently play for clubs in other confederations. Players are currently at these teams.
* Valery Nahayo ( Gent)
* Eyong Enoh ( Ajax)
* Mohammed-Awal Issah ( Red Star Belgrade) 
* Jonathan Mensah ( Granada), (currently on loan from Udinese)
* Deniss Ivanovs ( Sivasspor)
* Essau Kanyenda ( Rotor Volgograd), (currently on loan from FC KAMAZ)
* Robin Ngalande ( Atlético Madrid)
* Emmanuel Emenike ( Fenerbahçe)
* Tico ( Al-Kharitiyath)
* Mame Niang ( Kongsvinger)
* Danleigh Borman ( New York Red Bulls)
* Daylon Claasen ( Lierse)
* Lance Davids ( Lierse)
* Kagisho Dikgacoi ( Fulham)
* Cheyne Fowler ( HJK Helsinki)
* Bevan Fransman ( Hapoel Tel Aviv)
* Siboniso Gaxa ( Lierse)
* Bradley Grobler ( Göztepe)
* Junaid Hartley ( Sarawak FA)
* Waseem Isaacs ( MFK Zemplín Michalovce)
* Calvin Kadi ( Portimonense), (currently on loan from Wits)
* Bongani Khumalo ( Tottenham Hotspur)
* Jabu Mahlangu ( Östers IF)
* Tsepo Masilela ( Maccabi Haifa)
* Benni McCarthy ( West Ham United)
* Justin Miller ( Chelmsford City)
* Aaron Mokoena ( Portsmouth)
* Kamohelo Mokotjo ( (Feyenoord)
* Mpho Moloi ( Harrisburg City Islanders)
* Bryce Moon ( Panathinaikos), (currently on loan at Golden Arrows) 
* Nasief Morris ( Apollon Limassol)
* Anele Ngcongca ( Racing Genk)
* Bernard Parker ( Panserraikos, (currently on loan from FC Twente)
* Steven Pienaar ( Tottenham Hotspur)
* Patrick Phungwayo ( Panionios), (currently on loan from Wits)
* Thulani Serero ( Ajax)
* Brian Umony ( Portland Timbers), (currently on loan from University of Pretoria )
* James Chamanga ( Dalian Shide)
* Christopher Katongo ( Skoda Xanthi)
* Onismor Bhasera ( Plymouth Argyle)
* Benjani ( Blackburn Rovers)
==Founder Members==
*AmaZulu 
*Bloemfontein Celtic
*Cape Town Spurs
*Hellenic
*Jomo Cosmos
*Kaizer Chiefs
*Manning Rangers
*Michau Warriors
*Moroka Swallows
*Orlando Pirates
*QwaQwa Stars
*Real Rovers
*Mamelodi Sundowns
*Supersport United
*Umtata Bush Bucks
*Vaal Professionals
*Witbank Aces
*Wits University
==See also==
*MTN 8
*Telkom Knockout
*Nedbank Cup
*National First Division
*Vodacom League
==External links==
*Official Website 
*Premier Soccer League (PSL) Official Website
*South African Football Association (SAFA) Official Website
*Confederation of African Football (CAF) Official Website
*RSSSF competition history
==References==
 
Category:Leagues