After Premier Soccer League chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza announced the introduction of recognition system for league winners, here are the league winners since since 1971.
The PSL in it’s current format only exists since 1996 following an agreement between the National Soccer League (NSL) and the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).
These two were somewhat running simultaneously, with the NSL being launched in 1985 and the NPSL, which was originally for black teams only, in 1971.
Without going too much into detail about the mergers, Dr. Khoza stated league winners be rewarded with a “star system” currently used in the Bundesliga, while it is yet to be confirmed whether the stars on the kits will be going back to 1971 or whether the PSL chairman meant that part for the replica trophies only.
“Any team winning three titles will be entitled to one star – a five-pointed star [on their kit],” he said during Sunday’s awards gala.
“Six [titles] upward, two stars. It’s three stars from 10 trophies and from 20 trophies it’s four stars.
“Mamelodi Sundowns will be the first team in the new era we’re recognising with that award for having won six trophies in a row, well done Masandawana. You are a trail blazer.
“More importantly, we said as a league, ‘let us also recognise those teams since 1971 who’ve achieved the same feat, to do the necessary thing to recognise them.
“But more importantly, we have also decided as Executive Committee to have to give replica trophies since 1971 of all the competitions they’ve won, to have them in their trophy room, to show something as a motivation, as part of induction in their respective teams or tourism…”
So who would get how many stars?
iDiski Times contacted PSL Media Officer Fhatuwani Mpfuni to find out more about the new rewards’ system but he confirmed “full details will be communicated in due course”.
Nevertheless, we did some digging as to which team has won how many league titles over the years, and how many starts they could get in return.
Mamelodi Sundowns have won 16 titles, three in the NSL and 13 in the PSL – more than any other team in South Africa since 1971.
Kaizer Chiefs follow with 12 titles, five in the NPSL, three in the NSL and four in the PSL, while Orlando Pirates have lifted nine – four NPSL, 1 NSL and four in the PSL.
As a consequence, it seems that Sundowns and Chiefs could get three stars (for 10 or more league titles since 1971), while Pirates would get two (more than six league titles).
The other team, who could also get a star, are Supersport United, who won three Premier Soccer League titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
As mentioned above, the PSL leadership are yet to confirm the exact details of the rewards system, whether the stars on the kit will be given to league winners since 1971 or whether it will only start with Mamelodi Sundowns.
All league winners in SA since 1971:
