2017–18 South African Premier Division

Premier Soccer League
Season	2017–18
Champions	Mamelodi Sundowns; (8th title)
Relegated	Ajax Cape Town; Platinum Stars
Champions League	Mamelodi Sundowns; Orlando Pirates
Confederation Cup	Kaizer Chiefs; Free State Stars
Matches played	240
Goals scored	489 (2.04 per match)
Top goalscorer	Rodney Ramagalela; Percy Tau; (11 goals)
Biggest home win	Orlando Pirates 4-0 Bidvest Wits; (25 April 2018)
Highest scoring	Chippa United 2-4 Orlando Pirates (25 February 2018)
	← 2016–17 2018–19 → All statistics correct as of 20 March 2018.

The 2017–18 South African Premier Division season (known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is the 22nd season of the Premier Soccer League since its conception in 1996.

Bidvest Wits were the defending champions, having won the previous 2016–17 South African Premier Division (PSL) season. The season featured 15 teams from the 2016–17 season and one new team from the 2016–17 National First Division: AmaZulu replaced relegated Highlands Park. AmaZulu, although finishing only fifth in the National First Division (NFD) purchased winner's Thanda Royal Zulu's league status upon completion of the NFD season.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Teams

Stadiums and locations

Location of teams in the 2017–18 PSL.

Personnel and kits

League table

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Mamelodi Sundowns (C)	30	18	6	6	49	24	+25	60	2018–19 CAF Champions League
2	Orlando Pirates	30	15	10	5	41	26	+15	55	2018–19 CAF Champions League
3	Kaizer Chiefs	30	12	12	6	27	22	+5	48	2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup
4	Maritzburg United	30	11	11	8	36	23	+13	44
5	Cape Town City	30	11	7	12	26	27	−1	40
6	Free State Stars^[a]	30	10	10	10	29	31	−2	40	2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup
7	SuperSport United	30	9	12	9	28	28	0	39
8	Golden Arrows	30	8	14	8	36	34	+2	38
9	AmaZulu	30	9	11	10	30	35	−5	38
10	Chippa United	30	7	16	7	27	26	+1	37
11	Bloemfontein Celtic	30	8	13	9	25	32	−7	37
12	Polokwane City	30	7	15	8	33	33	0	36
13	Bidvest Wits	30	9	9	12	27	36	−9	36
14	Baroka FC	30	7	13	10	32	38	−6	34
15	Platinum Stars	30	6	9	15	23	35	−12	27	Playoff Tournament
16	Ajax Cape Town^[b] (R)	30	6	6	18	21	40	−19	24	2018–19 National First Division

Updated to match(es) played on 13 May 2018. Source: http://www.psl.co.za/matchcentre?type=Log
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored;
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

^ Free State Stars qualify for CAF Confederation Cup as winners of the 2017-18 Nedbank Cup.^[4]
^ Ajax Cape Town had three results awarded as 3-0 victories to the opposition. They lost seven points due to fielding an ineligible player.^[5]

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 13 April 2018

Rank	Player	Club	Goals^[6]
1	Rodney Ramagalela	Polokwane City	11
1	Percy Tau	Mamelodi Sundowns	11
3	Gift Motupa	Baroka	9
4	Khama Billiat	Mamelodi Sundowns	8
	Lerato Lamola	Lamontville Golden Arrows
	Aubrey Modiba	SuperSport United
	Evans Rusike	Supersport United
8	Mhlengi Cele	AmaZulu	7
8	Knox Mutizwa	Lamontville Golden Arrows	7
10	Andrea Fileccia	Maritzburg United	6
	Sepana Letsoalo	Bloemfontein Celtic
	Siphelele Magubane	Lamontville Golden Arrows
	Lehlohonolo Majoro	Bidvest Wits
	Walter Musona	Polokwane City
	Sibusiso Vilakazi	Mamelodi Sundowns
	Themba Zwane	Mamelodi Sundowns

References

^ "PSL approve AmaZulu-Thanda sale". Kick-Off. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ "South Africa's AmaZulu FC win promotion by buying league champions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
^ "PSL APPROVES AMAZULU-THANDA ROYAL ZULU SALE". Goal. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ "Free State Stars lift Nedbank Cup trophy". Sport24. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
^ "Sanctions see Ajax Cape Town relegated after end of season". BBC Sport. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
^ "Players - PSL - South Africa - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.

External links

[table_note_FRE0.81895590611685-5] Free State Stars qualify for CAF Confederation Cup as winners of the 2017-18 Nedbank Cup.^[4]

[table_note_AJA0.81895590611685-7] Ajax Cape Town had three results awarded as 3-0 victories to the opposition. They lost seven points due to fielding an ineligible player.^[5]

[1] "PSL approve AmaZulu-Thanda sale". Kick-Off. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

[2] "South Africa's AmaZulu FC win promotion by buying league champions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2017.

[3] "PSL APPROVES AMAZULU-THANDA ROYAL ZULU SALE". Goal. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

[4] "Free State Stars lift Nedbank Cup trophy". Sport24. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.

[6] "Sanctions see Ajax Cape Town relegated after end of season". BBC Sport. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.

[8] "Players - PSL - South Africa - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[a]

[b]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e South African Premiership seasons
2024–25 teams	AmaZulu Cape Town City Chippa United Golden Arrows Kaizer Chiefs Magesis Marumo Gallants Mamelodi Sundowns Polokwane City Pirates Richards Bay F.C. Royal AM Sekhukhune United Stellenbosch SuperSport United TS Galaxy
Former teams (defunct teams)	African Wanderers Ajax Cape Town F.C. Baroka Bay United Benoni Premier United Black Leopards Bloemfontein Celtic Bush Bucks Cape Town Spurs Dynamos Free State Stars Hellenic Highlands Park Jomo Cosmos Manning Rangers Maritzburg United Michau Warriors Moroka Swallows Mother City Mpumalanga Black Aces Platinum Stars Polokwane City Real Rovers Ria Stars Santos Seven Stars Thanda Royal Zulu Tembisa Classic Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila University of Pretoria Vaal Professionals Vasco da Gama Wits University F.C.
Associated competitions	Nedbank Cup Telkom Knockout MTN 8 National First Division
Seasons	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Seasons in South African soccer
Premiership teams (2024–25)	AmaZulu Cape Town City Chippa United Golden Arrows Kaizer Chiefs Magesi Marumo Gallants Mamelodi Sundowns Pirates Polokwane City Richards Bay Royal AM Sekhukhune United Stellenbosch SuperSport United TS Galaxy
First Division teams (2024–25)	Baroka Black Leopards Cape Town Spurs Casric Stars Durban City Highbury Hungry Lions JDR Stars Kruger United Leruma United Milford Orbit College Pretoria Callies University of Pretoria Upington City Venda
Premiership	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
National First Division	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
SAFA Second Division	1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Nedbank Cup	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
MTN 8	1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Telkom Knockout/Carling Knockout Cup	1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2023 2024
Carling Black Label Cup	2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2021 2022
National Football League	1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
Federation Professional League	1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
NPSL (1971-1977)	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
NPSL (1978-1984)	1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
NPSL (1985-1995)	1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1984 1992 1983 1994 1995
National Soccer League (NSL)	1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
SASF Cup	1961 1962 1963 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Telkom Charity Cup	1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Vodacom Challenge	1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011

v t e 2017 in African football (CAF)
« 2016 2018 »
Domestic leagues	Algeria 16–17 17–18 Angola Benin Botswana 16–17 17–18 Burkina Faso 16–17 17–18 Burundi 16–17 17–18 Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic 16–17 Chad Comoros Congo Democratic Republic of Congo 16–17 17–18 Djibouti 16–17 17–18 Egypt 16–17 17–18 Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia 16–17 17–18 Gabon 16–17 Gambia 16–17 17–18 Ghana Guinea 16–17 17–18 Guinea-Bissau 16–17 17–18 Ivory Coast 16–17 17–18 Kenya Lesotho 16–17 17–18 Liberia 16–17 Libya 17–18 Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania 16–17 17–18 Mauritius 16–17 17–18 Morocco 16–17 17–18 Mozambique Namibia 17–18 Niger 16–17 17–18 Nigeria men women Réunion 16–17 17 Rwanda 16–17 17–18 São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal 16–17 17–18 Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia 16–17 South Africa 16–17 17–18 South Sudan Sudan Swaziland 16–17 17–18 Tanzania 16–17 17–18 Togo 16–17 17–18 Tunisia 16–17 17–18 Uganda 16–17 17–18 Zambia Zanzibar 16–17 17–18 Zimbabwe
Domestic cups	Algeria 16–17 17–18 Angola Botswana 16–17 17–18 Egypt 16–17 17–18 Lesotho Morocco South Africa 16–17 17–18 Tunisia 16–17 17–18 Uganda
Supercups	Algeria Angola
Regional cups	Arab Club Championship
CAF club competitions	CAF Champions League qualifying rounds group stage knockout stage final CAF Confederation Cup qualifying rounds group stage knockout stage final CAF Super Cup
International competitions	Africa Cup of Nations Africa U-20 Cup of Nations Africa U-17 Cup of Nations CECAFA Cup COSAFA Cup

v t e 2018 in African football (CAF)
« 2017 2018–19 »
Domestic leagues	Algeria 17–18 18–19 Angola 18 18–19 Benin 18–19 Botswana 17–18 18–19 Burkina Faso 17–18 18–19 Burundi 17–18 18–19 Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo 18 18–19 Democratic Republic of Congo 17–18 18–19 Djibouti 17–18 18–19 Egypt 17–18 18–19 Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia 17–18 18–19 Gabon Gambia 17–18 18–19 Ghana Guinea 17–18 18–19 Guinea-Bissau 17–18 18–19 Ivory Coast 17–18 18–19 Kenya 18 18–19 Lesotho 17–18 18–19 Liberia Libya 17–18 18–19 Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania 17–18 18–19 Mauritius 17–18 18–19 Morocco 17–18 18–19 Mozambique Namibia 17–18 18–19 Niger 17–18 18–19 Nigeria Réunion Rwanda 17–18 18–19 São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal 17–18 18–19 Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa 17–18 18–19 South Sudan Sudan 18 18–19 Swaziland 17–18 18–19 Tanzania 17–18 18–19 Togo 17–18 18–19 Tunisia 17–18 18–19 Uganda 17–18 18–19 Zambia Zanzibar 17–18 18–19 Zimbabwe
Domestic cups	Algeria 17–18 18–19 Botswana 17–18 18–19 Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Comoros Congo Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo Djibouti Egypt 17–18 18–19 Ethiopia Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Réunion Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Somalia South Africa 17–18 18–19 South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania 17–18 18–19 Togo Tunisia 17–18 18–19 Uganda Zimbabwe
Supercups	Algeria Egypt Ghana
CAF club competitions	CAF Champions League qualifying rounds group stage knockout stage final CAF Confederation Cup qualifying rounds group stage knockout stage final CAF Super Cup
International competitions	African Nations Championship FIFA World Cup CECAFA Cup COSAFA Cup