As we head into a new DStv Premiership season, we take a look at the current best marks in South Africa’s topflight, with two clubs dominating the records set down the years.
Here are the current marks to beat in a 30-game season.
Most title wins in a row and most overall
The only team that can break these – or extend their own record – is Mamelodi Sundowns, who hold the current best mark of 16 league title wins (next highest is Kaizer Chiefs with 13). Sundowns also hold the record for most consecutive league wins with six. They are odds-on to make it seven …
Most points in a 30-game season
Sundowns looked well on course to break the record for most league points in a 30-game season in the last campaign, but too many draws in the closing few weeks meant they finished with 70, one short. Can they, or anyone else, top that mark this term? The most points accumulated in any season in South Africa is 75 points, a record Sundowns jointly hold with Kaizer Chiefs from the 1998/99 campaign that had 34 matches per team.
Most wins in a season
In the PSL era overall, this mark is 23 held by Sundowns, Chiefs and Manning Rangers, while in a 30-game season The Brazilians hold the record with 22, set in 2015/16. There is very little margin for error with this one and again Sundowns looked on target last year until they drew six of their last nine league games and ended with 21 wins.
Most wins in succession
This was a mark that Sundowns set last season when they went on a run of 15 wins in a row after Rulani Mokwena was handed the sole coaching reins. That beat the previous best mark of 11, also by Sundowns under Gordon Igesund in 2006/07. This is another tough to conquer, does any side have the ability to basically go half a DStv Premiership season winning every game?
Most home wins in a 30-game season
Sundowns jointly hold this record and matched it last season. The best mark in a 30-game DStv Premiership season is 12 home wins from 15 games, something achieved by BidVest Wits (2016/17), Sundowns (2015/16 & 2022/23) and Ajax Cape Town (2010/11). Sundowns had a chance to beat it last season but were held 1-1 in their final home league game by lowly Maritzburg United.
Most away wins in a 30-game season
Finally a record that Sundowns don’t hold. This one goes to Kaizer Chiefs, who managed 11 away wins in their victorious 2014/15 season, the last one under Stuart Baxter and also the last time they won a trophy. Sundowns have got close on four occasions since then, winning 10 games on the road, but have yet to match Chiefs in a 30-game season.
Most team goals in a 30-game season
The overall PSL record is held by Chiefs with the 73 goals they scored in 34 games in the 1998/99 season. The top mark in a 30-game campaign is the 56 Sundowns netted in 2021/22, which they could not top in the last campaign when they managed 52.
Most player goals in a 30-game season
Former Zambia international striker Collins Mbesuma holds this record after he netted 25 times for Chiefs in the 2004/05 season. He was almost eclipsed in 2021/22 by Sundowns’ current star Peter Shalulile, who managed 23 goals and fell just short.
Fewest team goals conceded in a season
Chiefs have this one too after they conceded only 11 times in the 2003/04 season on their way to winning the league under ted Dumitru. Will this one ever be beaten? Sundowns conceded 13 times last season so came close, but this record could stand the test of time.
Most team clean sheets in a 30-game season
Once again, the honours go to Chiefs on this one from that same 2003/04 campaign when they kept 21 clean sheets from their 30 games. It is another record that could be with us for some time.
Most goalkeeper clean sheets in a 30-game season
Ronwen Williams is now the record-holder for most clean-sheets in a PSL season by a gloveman after he kept 18 in the last campaign. That beat the previous record of Orlando Pirates’ Moeneeb Josephs by one.
Best goal-difference
Sundowns set a new mark for best goal-difference in 2022/23 with +39, topping their previous record set the season before by +3. It might have been much greater too had it not been for those six draws towards the end.
Biggest title winning margin
Sundowns currently hold this record having romped to 16-point league title wins in the last two seasons. Can anyone close the gap this time round?
Quickest DStv Premiership goal
Records are a little sketchy on this one, but know Mabhuti Khenyeza scored for Chiefs against Pirates after 19 seconds in 2007. That Soweto Derby clash was played in Durban. The quickest goal last season was Thapelo Morena’s strike after 25 seconds against Marumo Gallants.
Most decorated player
Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango has now claimed 10 league titles in South Africa, a record and one that will take some beating. The first three of those came in the colours of SuperSport, before winning seven with Sundowns, including in the last six seasons. He might have had one more too but was sent on loan to BidVest Wits when Sundowns won the league championship in the 2013/14 campaign. Can he make it 11 this year?