2018–19 South African Premier Division
The 2018–19 South African Premier Division season (known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 23rd season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996. The season began in August 2018 and concluded in May 2019. Mamelodi Sundowns are the champions.
Team Changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2017–18 season.
To National First Division
Relegated from 2017-18 South African Premier Division
- Platinum Stars
- Ajax Cape Town
From National First Division
Promoted to 2018–19 South African Premier Division
- Highlands Park
- Black Leopards
Teams
Stadium and Locations
Chippa
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| AmaZulu | Durban (Durban North) | King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium |
10,000 |
| Polokwane City | Polokwane | Peter Mokaba Stadium | 45,500 |
| Black Leopards | Thohoyandou | Thohoyandou Stadium | 40,000 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | Marabastad )
|
Loftus Versfeld Stadium | 51,762 |
| Maritzburg United | Pietermaritzburg | Harry Gwala Stadium | 12,000 |
| SuperSport United | Pretoria | Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium
|
28,900 |
| Chippa United | Port Elizabeth
|
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | 48,459 |
Golden Arrows
|
Durban(Lamontville) | Princess Magogo Stadium | 12,000 |
| Baroka | Polokwane | Peter Mokaba Stadium | 45,500 |
| Bidvest | Johannesburg (Braamfontein) | Bidvest Stadium | 5,000 |
Highlands Park |
Johannesburg | Balfour Park Stadium | 13,500 |
| Cape Town City | Cape Town (Green Point) | Cape Town Stadium | 55,000 |
Bloemfontein Celtic |
Bloemfontein | Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium | 22,000 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | Johannesburg (Soweto) | FNB Stadium | 94,736 |
| Free State Stars | Bethlehem | Goble Park | 20,000 |
| Orlando Pirates | Johannesburg (Soweto) | Orlando Stadium | 37,139 |
Number of teams by province
| Province | Number of teams | Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gauteng | 6 | Highlands Park
|
| 2 | KwaZulu-Natal | 3 | Golden Arrows and Amazulu
|
| Limpopo | Baroka FC and Black Leopards
| ||
| 4 | Free State | 2 | Bloemfontein Celtic
|
| 5 | Eastern Cape | 1 | Chippa United
|
| Western Cape | Cape Town City |
Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baroka
|
 Doctor Khumalo
|
Mutual consent | 12 May 2018[2] | Pre-season |  Wedson Nyirenda
|
30 May 2018[3] |
Celtic
|
Veselin Jelusic
|
14 June 2018[4] | Steve Komphela
|
20 June 2018[5] | ||
Polokwane
|
Bernard Molekwa
|
Retained as assistant coach | 27 June 2018[6] | Jozef Vukusic
|
27 June 2018[7] | |
| Kaizer Chiefs | Steve Komphela
|
Resigned | 21 April 2018[8] |  Giovanni Solinas
|
13 July 2018[9] |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamelodi Sundowns
|
30 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 40 | 24 | +16 | 59 | Qualification for Champions League |
| 2 | Orlando Pirates | 30 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 44 | 24 | +20 | 57 | |
| 3 | Bidvest Wits
|
30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 45 | 29 | +16 | 54 | Qualification for Confederation Cup |
| 4 | Cape Town City | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 47 | 35 | +12 | 48 | |
| 5 | Polokwane City
|
30 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 38 | 35 | +3 | 44 | |
| 6 | SuperSport United
|
30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 44 | |
| 7 | Highlands Park
|
30 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 41 | |
| 8 | Bloemfontein Celtic
|
30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 35 | 37 | −2 | 40 | |
| 9 | Kaizer Chiefs
|
30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 33 | 29 | +4 | 39 | |
| 10 | Golden Arrows
|
30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 27 | 31 | −4 | 36 | |
| 11 | AmaZulu FC | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 31[b] | |
| 12 | Chippa United
|
30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 27 | 35 | −8 | 30 | |
| 13 | Black Leopards
|
30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 30 | 46 | −16 | 30 | |
| 14 | Baroka FC | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 27 | 37 | −10 | 29 | |
| 15 | Maritzburg United
|
30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 32 | −10 | 27 | Qualification for Playoff Tournament |
| 16 | Free State Stars
|
30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 47 | −16 | 27 | Relegation to National First Division |
Source: Premier Soccer League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Playoff
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Playoff
Notes:
- ^ TS Galaxy (from National First Division) are Nedbank Cup winners and also qualify for Confederation Cup.
- ^ AmaZulu had 6 points deducted for failing to pay former player Phineas Nambandi.
Results
Statistics
Top scorers
- As of 11 May 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[10] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mwape Musonda |
Black Leopards |
16 |
| 2 | Gift Motupa |
Bidvest Wits |
9 |
| Thembinkosi Lorch |
Orlando Pirates F.C. | ||
| Tshegofatso Mabasa |
Bloemfontein Celtic F.C. | ||
| 5 |  Knox Mutizwa |
Golden Arrows |
8 |
| Lebohang Maboe |
Mamelodi Sundowns
| ||
| Mothobi Mvala |
Highlands Park
| ||
 Mohammed Anas |
Polokwane City
| ||
| Vincent Pule |
Orlando Pirates F.C. | ||
| 10 | Mxolisi Macuphu |
SuperSport United | 7 |
| Siphelele Mthembu |
Cape Town City | ||
| Bongi Ntuli |
AmaZulu | ||
 Peter Shalulile |
Chippa United |
Assists
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists[10] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deon Hotto |
Bidvest Wits |
13 |
| 2 | Aubrey Modiba |
SuperSport United |
10 |
| 3 | Jabulani Maluleke |
Polokwane City |
9 |
| 4 | Fortune Makaringe |
Maritzburg United | 8 |
| Augustine Mulenga |
Orlando Pirates
| ||
Gaston Sirino |
Mamelodi Sundowns
| ||
| 7 | Thembinkosi Lorch |
Orlando Pirates | 7 |
| 8 | Ndumiso Mabena |
Bloemfontein Celtic |
6 |
| Mduduzi Mdantsane |
Baroka | ||
| Themba Zwane |
Mamelodi Sundowns |
Clean Sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Tignyemb
|
Bloemfontein Celtic F.C. | 11 |
| 1 | Ronwen Williams
|
SuperSport United
|
10 |
| 3 | Darren Keet
|
Bidvest Wits F.C. | 9 |
| 3 | Siyabonga Mbatha
|
AmaZulu F.C. | 9 |
| 5 | Richard Ofori
|
Maritzburg United
|
7 |
| 5 |  Peter Leeuwenburgh
|
Cape Town City F.C. | 7 |
| 7 | Nkosingiphile Gumede
|
Golden Arrows
|
6 |
| 7 | Itumeleng Khune
|
Kaizer Chiefs F.C. | 6 |
| 7 |  Daniel Akpeyi
|
Kaizer Chiefs F.C. | 6 |
| 7 | George Chigova
|
Polokwane City F.C. | 6 |
Hat-tricks
| Player | Club | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mwape Musonda |
Black Leopards |
3–2 | Chippa United F.C. | Thohoyandou Stadium, Thohoyandou | 10 March 2019 |
Discipline
- As of 17 March 2019
Player
- Most yellow cards: 10
Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows)
- Most red cards: 2
Nyiko Mobbie (Free State Stars)- Robyn Johannes (Bidvest Wits)
- Taariq Fielies (Cape Town City)
- Khuliso Mudau (Black Leopards)
Team
- Most yellow cards: 50
- Bidvest Wits
- Most red cards: 4
- Free State Stars
- Fewest yellow cards: 25
- Black Leopards
- Fewest red cards: 0
- Kaizer Chiefs
- SuperSport United
- AmaZulu
- Chippa United
References
- ^ "Football Ground Guide". Football Ground Guide. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ "Baroka confirm Doctor Khumalo departure". News24. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ "Komphela confirmed as new Bloem Celtic coach". News24. 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Jelusic confirms departure from Celtic". News24. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- Soccer Laduma. 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Vukusic takes over from Bernard Molekwa". Sowetan Live. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Rise and Shine explain Vukusic appointment". 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ "Steve Komphela resigns as Kaizer Chiefs coach". Mail & Guardian. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Kaizer Chiefs on announce Giovanni Solinas as their new head coach". 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Players - PSL - South Africa - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".