Orlando Pirates have been the most successful side in terms of trophies won over the last two Premier Soccer League seasons, though Mamelodi Sundowns again claimed the ‘big one’ with the league title in 2022/23, the sixth year in a row they have been champions.
For Kaizer Chiefs, the wait goes on for silverware and when you look at their rich history, it is becoming ever more painful for the AmaKhosi, especially as they see bitter rivals Pirates celebrating success.
So where are we sitting in terms of major trophies won following the Carling Knockout decider this past weekend?
KAIZER CHIEFS (67)
League titles: 13
Other trophies: 54
Still the kings of the trophy hunters, even if their last success came eight years ago, the longest drought in the club’s illustrious history. It will take some doing for them to ever be overhauled, though they no longer hold the record for most league wins, having ceded that to Mamelodi Sundowns three years ago and fallen further behind. Certainly the days of them being the dominant force in the local game are over for now.
ORLANDO PIRATES (39)
League titles: 9
Other trophies: 30
Pirates did much of their best work in the 1970s and by the end of that decade had garnered 13 trophies, a little over a third of their overall total. The next decade was a leaner one with just four pieces of silverware, but they bounced back to win seven, including the coveted CAF Champions Cup, in the 1990s. Since then wins have been sporadic, though they did do the ‘Double Treble’ to claim six trophies between 2010-2012, and another double last season with the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup, before winning the MTN8 again in 2023. That meant they actually pulled away from Sundowns a little.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (34)
League titles: 16
Other trophies: 18
Already the holders for the most league titles in the domestic game, they added to that number last season and quite remarkably have almost the same number of championship wins as they do knockout trophies. The 2022/23 season was a cakewalk in the league, but that was their only title and so it will go down as a disappointing season for the club, especially as they are still on the hunt for a second continental star. They did lift the inaugural African Football League title this season.
SUPERSPORT UNITED (13)
League titles: 3
Other trophies: 10
SuperSport were once perennial challengers for silverware, but the last few years have been tough, especially since they switched to being a development club and sold their best talent. There was a revival of sorts that saw them finish third under returning head coach Gavin Hunt, perhaps laying the platform for future success. They won three league titles in a row under Hunt from 2008-2010, but their last trophy was the 2019 MTN8.
MOROKA SWALLOWS (10)
League titles: 1
Other trophies: 9
Swallows are the fifth most successful side in this year’s topflight, but their only league success came all the way back in 1965 and they have had some dark days in recent times. They are five-time winners of what is now the Nedbank Cup, to go with three victories in the MTN8 and one in the Sales House Cup. Their last victory was the 2012 MTN8, and they have never won what is now the Carling Knockout.
CAPE TOWN SPURS (6)
League titles: 1
Other trophies: 5
Sours’ history is a little murky as the club merged with Seven Stars to form Ajax Cape Town in 1999, but essentially have been the same entity all the way through. Their only league title came in 1995, the year in which they did the ‘Double’ but also winning what is now the Nedbank Cup. Their last trophy was the MTN8 in 2015, while they have also been regular runners up in the league and cup competitions.
AMAZULU (2)
League titles: 1
Other trophies: 1
This may come as a major surprise for a club of their size and support, but AmaZulu have only ever won two major trophies in their history, the last some 31 years ago! They claimed the league title 50 years ago in 1972 when they won the NPSL and then added to the Coca-Cola Cup to small trophy cabinet in 1992. They have been to six finals in the Nedbank Cup competition and lost them all, last season going out to third-tier Dondol Stars.
CAPE TOWN CITY (2)
League titles: 0
Other trophies: 2
City have only been in existence for seven years but have two pieces of silverware and have been to four finals in their short history. They claimed the Telkom Knockout in their inaugural season in 2016/17, before winning the MTN8 title in 2018. They also lost in the final of the latter competition in 2017 and 2021.
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS (1)
League titles: 0
Other trophies: 1
Golden Arrows’ only trophy success came in fine style in 2009 as they thrashed Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the final of the MTN8, still the biggest margin of victory in a South African knockout decider. Manqoba Mngqithi was the coach of that side and it was the season that really put him on the map. That is also their only final appearance, while they have not been close to winning the league.
TS GALAXY (1)
League titles: 0
Other trophies: 1
Galaxy were shock winners of the 2019 Nedbank Cup as, while then a second-tier side, they stunned Kaizer Chiefs in the final with a 1-0 victory. They have since bought their way into the topflight after purchasing the status of Highlands Park and reached this past weekend’s Carling Knockout final, where they were unlucky losers on penalties to Stellenbosch FC.
STELLENBOSCH FC (1)
League titles: 0
Other trophies: 1
Stellenbosch sealed that Carling Knockout triumph as a reward for some excellent form this season as they remain a real ‘club on the up’ with excellent development structures and top people working behind the scenes. This could be the first trophy of many over the next decade.
NO MAJOR HONOURS
These clubs have yet to win a major honour: Chippa United, Polokwane City, Richards Bay, Royal AM and Sekhukhune United.