Only two players have played every minute of every game in the DStv Premiership this season and not only come from same club but play together in the heart of TS Galaxy. Captain Pogisho Sanoka and colleague MacBeth Mahlangu are yet to miss a minute of DStv Premiership action for their club and on course to finish the season with a full house of minutes for their club.
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They form a strong defensive pairing at Galaxy, who have the third least number of goals conceded in the DStv Premiership this season.
Galaxy coach Saed Ramovic waxed lyrical about the pair this week, saying: “Sanoka played the last two seasons with Given [Msimango]. Killer [Mahlangu] had a fantastic attitude in training at the time when he could not make the team because Given played so well. When he got a chance he gripped it and now Killer for me is the best defender in our league. That is my opinion, because I see him every day.
“Sanoka is a fantastic player also. I always say if you defend well, you attack better. And this is what we do,” said the German-born coach.
Mahlangu, 22 and the 31-year-old Sanoka, who was converted from fullback after his move from Maritzburg United, have played 2430, or 27 full matches, for Galaxy, who host Orlando Pirates on Saturday, have a catch-up game next Tuesday against Mamelodi Sundowns and finish their campaign with an away trip to Polokwane City.
Polokwane City defender Lebohang Nkaki has also started every league match this season but not played every minute for his club. Coach Phuti Mohafe took defender with some 18 minutes left of the heavy 5-0 defeat at Stellenbosch on April 27.
Nkaki had played every minute of Polokwane City’ first 24 games of the season.
There are also several players who have missed only a single game this season, including Nkaki’s defensive colleague Thabang Matuludi, who has made a strong impression at right back, has started 27 games out of the 28 league matches that Polokwane have played this season.
Cape Town City goalkeeper Darren Keet missed a single game for City this season, replaced by Bongani Mpandle for the clash against AmaZulu in September. The 33-year-old Keet has 10 clean sheets in 27 league starts and a total of 2 430 minutes played.
Gladwin Shitolo has been a revelation at centre-back for Lamontville Golden Arrows. The 33-year-old had, ironically, been released by Arrows last campaign but then recalled. Now he is the captain and one of the most reliable performers. He has missed one game but played every minute of the 27.
Riaan Hanamub from AmaZulu has made 27 out of 28 starts for his club. On top of 2 427 minutes of league action, the 29-year-old left back has also played six cup games and went to the Africa Cup of Nations finals at the start of the year with Namibia.