PSL clubs since 1994

It’s a complex list filled with name changes, relocations and buy-outs, but we’ve managed to list and reflect on every club that has graced South Africa’s top-flight since the inception of KICK OFF Magazine 25 years ago.

Ever wondered how many clubs in total have played top-flight PSL football through the 25 years that KICK OFF Magazine has been in existence? Lovemore Moyo provides the details on exactly how many South African clubs have made it to the big time, while reflecting on the complex history of many who have endured financial struggles, renaming, relocation and in some cases, sheer neglect. The nature of competitive football across the world dictates that there be relegation for the worst performers at the end of the season, with the best-ranked teams in the division below then promoted. As is prevalent in South Africa, demotion from the top-tier often leads to the disappearance of many a club, with several drowned by financial troubles or merely dying a slow death until their status can only be described as “defunct”. Only Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have been ever-present in South Africa’s top-flight since KICK OFF Magazine came into existence in February 1994, but minus the obvious big three, who else has had a taste of top-level football over the last 25 years? To commemorate a quarter of a century of KICK OFF, we briefly look back on each and every club that has graced South Africa’s premier league.

African Wanderers

Abaqulusi played in the NSL First Division in 1995 after winning the Second Division Coastal Stream the previous year, but were relegated after just a year in South Africa’s top tier. They would come back again in 1997, only to go down yet again soon after before enjoying just two seasons in the top-flight following their third promotion since 1994. As stubborn as they were, they then came back into the PSL yet again, but were demoted for a fourth time in eight years at the end of the 2002/03 season. They would never return though, with their name constantly mentioned in the amateur ranks in an effort to revive the club.

AmaZulu

Initially formed in 1932, AmaZulu played for a season as Zulu Royals in the 2003/04 campaign after winning promotion as Coastal Stream First Division champions. The current owners have been in charge since 2005, a year before they swapped their First Division franchise with that of Dynamos in a deal that also involved a fair bit of money to buy their way into South Africa’s top-flight. When they failed to win promotion back to the PSL after being relegated in the 2014/15 season, they then resorted to buying the PSL franchise of returnees Thanda Royal Zulu in 2017. Usuthu remain a celebrated club despite their lack of success in recent years, having last won silverware in 1992 when they lifted the Coca-Cola Cup.

Baroka FC

Another baby that was only born in 2007 before then crawling their way to the PSL in 2016, Bakgaga are now into their third season in the top-flight, with last year’s Telkom Knockout becoming the first PSL trophy won by a club from Limpopo.

Bay United

(now Polokwane City) Under the name Bay United that came into existence when Volkswagen SA bought Maritzburg United’s First Division franchise in 2005, the club was then sold to Izingwe Capital fronted by Sipho Pityana two years later. The Port Elizabeth-based outfit won the 2007/08 promotion play-offs, but lasted just one season in the PSL. Two years after their relegation, their NFD status was then bought by the Mogaladi family who then renamed the club Polokwane City and moved it to Limpopo. Though City bought Bay United in 2011, the team’s name was only changed the following year after the club had relocated to Polokwane. They would end the 2012/13 season as NFD champions, yet their success was overshadowed by a motor vehicle accident earlier in the season which killed four players. Rise and Shine have since enjoyed five consecutive seasons in the PSL.

Benoni Premier United

The club’s top-flight football life was born out of Hellenic in 2004 and while they didn’t last long the first time, they were back in the PSL as play-off winners in 2006. However, after a difficult season back in South Africa’s top-tier, they were then sold to a Swedish consortium, renamed Thanda Royal Zulu and relocated to Durban. Their PSL stay as Thanda Royal Zulu lasted just two seasons before they suffered relegation and were then relocated to Richards Bay. Though they won promotion in 2017 under the late Roger Sikhakhane, financial limitations forced them to sell their newly-acquired PSL status to provincial rivals AmaZulu, who then offloaded

their First Division franchise to Richards Bay FC, marking the death of Amabhubesi as a professional club.

Black Leopards

Leopards came into existence in 1983, with current owner David Thidiela taking over in 1998, three years before his side won promotion to the PSL. They then spent seven years in the top-flight before being demoted, fighting their way back in 2011 before going down again two years later. Lidoda Duvha’s play-off victory last year sees them back in the big time once again, and will hope to maintain their top-flight status and not disappoint the masses that fill up their home in Thohoyandou.

Bloemfontein Celtic

Celtic were formed in 1969, but have changed ownership hands on numerous occasions, from Norman Mathobisa, Vincent Mahatane, Petrus Molemela and Jimmy Augousti to current owner Max Tshabalala, who has also indicated his desire to sell due to financial strains. Siwelele have been relegated just once in the last 25 years – at the end of the 2000/01 season – but fought their way back into the PSL in 2004 as First Division champions and have been in the PSL ever since. In that period, the Free State club managed to win the 2005 SAA Supa Cup and the 2012 Telkom KnockOut, with their army of green and white fans remaining one the most passionate in the country.

Cape Town Spurs

(now Ajax Cape Town after merging with Seven Stars) The Eagles came into existence in 1969 and were a major force during the infancy of KICK OFF magazine as they were Bob Save Super Bowl and league champions in 1995 after bitterly finishing as runners-up the previous year. In 1999 Spurs amalgamated with fellow PSL club Seven Stars – who had been formed in 1995 and were promoted after going unbeaten in their 1997/98 Coastal Stream Championship-winning run – in a deal initiated by Stars boss Rob Moore after ironing out Benni McCarthy’s transfer to Ajax Amsterdam. The Seven Stars franchise was then renamed Ajax Cape Town who became, and still are, a satellite club of the Dutch giants, while the Cape Town Spurs franchise was sold and became known as Mother City. John Comitis – who had bought Spurs from David Rodwell after they won the league in 1995 – became the chairman of the new-born club, though he ultimately sold all his shares in 2013. Over the last two decades, the Urban Warriors have won the Rothmans Cup (2000), ABSA Cup (2007), Telkom KnockOut (2008) and MTN8 (2015), but now play in the First Division after being relegated last season.

Chippa United

In 2009 Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi bought Mbekweni Cosmos’ Second Division franchise and within three years the club was playing in the PSL. The Chilli Boys were relegated at the end of their first season (2012/13) in the topflight, but immediately came back and have now been in the PSL for five years in a row.

D’Alberton Callies

(then became Rabali Blackpool) Durban-based Callies had been in existence since 1962, but were then sold at the beginning of 1995, immediately becoming Rabali Blackpool and relocating to Limpopo. They played their home games in Thohoyandou, with the late taxi boss Donald Dzagana in charge. The team then changed owners during a chaotic season with fellow businessman Peter Rabali taking over and relocating the team to Johannesburg, though they continued playing their home games in Venda. They were relegated that same year after being deducted six points for fielding ineligible players. The team is now defunct.

Dynamos

Dynamos won promotion to the PSL in 1998 after winning the Inland Stream First Division title under the guidance of Peter Rabali, who had originally adopted Lenasia Dynamos. They were relegated in their debut season, but then made a comeback in 2002 with Pat Malabela having taken over the club from Rabali, who had been banned from football. Ri Khomeni Ri Nga Pheli featured in South Africa’s top-flight for four years before selling their status to AmaZulu in 2006 for a reported R35 million. They then inherited Usuthu’s First Division status, going on to play for seven years in the NFD before being relegated, straight after which the club ceased to exist.

Hellenic

The Greek Gods have a history stretching as far back as 1958, but enjoyed their best days in the times of segregation, winning a number of trophies in the early 1970s. They remained a competitive outfit throughout the 90s until they swapped franchises with First Division club Premier United midway through the 2003/04 season as they took over each other’s remaining fixtures, but both were eventually relegated. It was a deal in which The Greek Gods were paid close to R5 million, but ended with the club eventually being swallowed into the amateur ranks and then being sold again. The club is now alive as a mere academy in Cape Town.

Highlands Park

A name with a rich history in domestic football, Highlands Park are now back in the PSL for their second spell in three years. The latest version of the Lions of the North was born out of the youth structures that remained alive when the original franchise was bought by Jomo Cosmos in 1982.

HP Silver Stars

(became Platinum Stars, now Cape Umoya United) After turning out as a mere amateur team for years, Stars then became a structured club in 1998 and worked their way into the PSL five years later after being crowned First Division Inland Stream champions. Their first top-flight trophy came in the form of the Telkom KnockOut in 2006 before the club was renamed Platinum Stars a year later when they were bought by the Bafokeng, who earned full ownership the following year. Dikwena then won the Telkom KnockOut again in 2013 along with the MTN8 trophy, but with the Bafokeng pulling out for financial reasons, they were then bought out by a consortium before suffering relegation last season. They now play as Cape Umoya United in the First Division.

Jomo Cosmos

Cosmos were formed in 1982 after Jomo Sono bought the NSL First Division franchise of Highlands Park. Cosmos would grow in stature, but played in the Second Division in 1994 following their relegation from the First Division the previous year, yet would immediately return to the top-flight the next season. Commonly referred to as the PSL’s “yo-yo team” over the last decade, Cosmos is a club that has fed many teams across the country with a number of great players. Ezenkosi have won the SAA Supa 8 and the Coca-Cola Cup twice in their history, and are pushing for promotion back to the PSL yet again this term, having last featured in the Absa Premiership three years ago.

Lamontville Golden Arrows

Abafana Bes’thende are an old club that was revived in 1996 when the current owners bought the First Division franchise of Ntokozo FC. They would

win promotion to the PSL at the turn of the new millennium, reaching their peak when lifting the MTN8 trophy in 2009 before then facing the agony of relegation in 2014. The KwaZulu-Natal club bounced back a year later and have been amongst South Africa’s elite 16 since then.

Manning Rangers

The Mighty Maulers’ history stretches back to 1932, yet the club had to buy their way back to the NSL First Division in 1993 after taking over the status of Ratanang Maholosiane after suffering relegation the previous year. Rangers made history by winning the inaugural PSL league title in 1996/97 as they finished in the top five over the next three years, after which they went on a free-fall until their relegation in 2005. The club then went bankrupt and were sold, first becoming Fidentia Rangers after which they were renamed Ikapa Sporting, who were then demoted from the First Division in 2010. Only memories remain of Rangers and their proud base in Chatsworth.

Maritzburg United

Originally formed in 1979, Maritzburg was revived in 2003 when the current owners bought the First Division status of Royal Tigers, after which they then acquired Tembisa Classsic’s PSL status two years later. Though they were relegated in 2007, they made an immediate comeback the following year and have since been ever-present in the PSL.

Mother City

The group of businessman who bought Spurs’ franchise for R3.8 million two weeks before the start of the 1999/2000 season apparently admitted that they “knew nothing about football”. A cocktail of confusion defined their season as nine coaching changes were made in a horror campaign which ended with 85 goals conceded and just two wins in 34 games to their name. After their relegation from the PSL, they went down again two years later and are now in the grave.

Moroka Swallows

The Beautiful Birds are yet another sad story in the history of football in South Africa. Having been in existence since 1947, Swallows fell from grace when they were relegated from the PSL (2014/15) to the NFD (2015/16) and then to the ABC Motsepe League (2016/17), from where they sank deeper into the SAB Leagues which marked their demise. There has been plenty talks to revive the club, with their former name and colours now changed to Swallows FC – a pale shadow of their former selves who now play in the ABC Motsepe League, having bought the status of Orange Vaal Professionals. Though the Birds were never crowned league champions over the last 25 years, they did manage to win the 2004 Absa Cup, the 2009 Nedbank Cup as well as the 2012 MTN8.

Pretoria City

(now SuperSport United) After being relegated in 1994, the Pretoria club was then promoted back the following year after winning the Second Division play-offs. Pay television channel M-Net then bought Pretoria City’s NSL First Division status that same year, with ownership then transferred to SuperSport International. They played the first season of the PSL as Pretoria City before being renamed SuperSport United. Matsatsantsa have since built themselves an impressive brand, and are the only other club besides the big three to have never been relegated in the PSL era. SuperSport have won the league thrice, the Nedbank Cup on four occasions, the MTN8 twice and the Telkom KnockOut once.

Qwaqwa Stars

(now Free State Stars) Stars were formed in 1977 and won promotion to the NSL in 1986 after ending as Second Division champions the previous year. However, their top-flight adventure was ended in 2002 after they were bought out

by the PSL as the number of teams in the league was reduced from 18 to 16. They were reborn almost immediately when they bought Maholosiane FC’s First Division status the following year, enjoying promotion, suffering relegation before then gaining promotion once again at the culmination of the 2007/08 season. Last year Ea Lla Koto won the Nedbank Cup, ending a 24-year wait for silverware as a top-flight club after winning the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup. The club have impressively only been outside top-flight football for four years since 1994.

Real Rovers

Known as the Gladiators of the North, Rovers featured in South Africa’s top-flight during the 1990s, having been formed back in 1975. They were the 1993 Second Division Inland Stream champions and then played for four years at the top before being relegated. The side then went on to play another three years in the First Division Inland Stream before being relegated again in 2001 as they sank into the amateur ranks, never to return to professional football again. Through their history they were also known as Mahwelereng Real Rovers in reference to the place deom where they originated. They are now defunct after their Vodacom League franchise was sold.

Ria Stars

Born in 1989, Stars were promoted to the PSL in 2000, lasting just two years before being bought out by the PSL in 2002 when the league was reduced from 18 to 16 teams, which resulted in their demise. Ria Ledwaba – who owned the club – remains involved within the Safa structures.

Royal Tigers

Tigers finished bottom of the NSL First Division standings in 1994 after being promoted as Second Division Coastal Stream champions. They went on to play second-tier league for seven years, but now no longer feature in the professional football ranks.

Crystal Brains

(then became Michau Warriors) Crystal Brains were the 1995 Second Division play-off runners-up, but such was their crisis that they were already doomed in the Coca-Cola Challenge mini-league which was created in early 1996 ahead of the switch to the new August-May PSL season. They were then sold and relocated to Port Elizabeth under the name Warriors, who were relegated in the inaugural PSL season after finishing bottom of the log. The club became defunct thereafter after just one season in the First Division.

Santos

Formed in 1982, the People’s Team is yet another club that has suffered the embarrassment of a horrific fall from grace. They were demoted from the PSL in 2011/12 before then suffering relegation from the NFD in 2016/17, and now find themselves plying their trade with amateurs in the ABC Motsepe League. Less than two decades ago Santos were PSL champions, lifting the title in the 2001/02 campaign, with the 2001 Bob Save, 2002 BP Top 8 and 2003 Absa Cup the other three trophies proudly displayed in their cabinet.

Tembisa Classic

Classic were promoted to the PSL in 1999, spending two years there before getting relegated. They then made a return in 2005, only for the owners to then sell the club’s status to the owners of Maritzburg United. They are no more.

Umtata Bucks

(also known as Bush Bucks) Imbabala were once the pride of the Eastern Cape with a history stretching

as far back as 1957. They were Coca-Cola Cup champions in 1993 and 1996, a time during which they were a formidable team that was associated with the top half of the league standings until their relegation in 2003, by which time they had moved base from Mthatha to East London. They came back a year later after ending as First Division Coastal Stream champions, but would last just two years in the PSL before falling down again and then undergoing liquidation. Their First Division franchise was then sold in 2006 to Western Province United who also sank further down the South African football system with consecutive relegations into the amateur ranks. In East London, former boss Sturu Pasiya has been attempting to revive the club with a project named Bush Bucks Sports Academy.

University of Pretoria

The capital club was formed when Tuks Sport bought Pretoria City’s Second Division status before then going on to win PSL promotion in 2012. They spent four years in the top-flight, but have now been back in the NFD for three consecutive years.

Vaal Professionals

Known as Setla, the club was formed in 1970 and reached the top-flight in 1993 after winning the Second Division Inland Stream the previous year, spending five years in the premier division before their relegation after the 1998/99 campaign. Their proudest moment was winning the 1994 Bob Save Super Bowl under Simon “Bull” Lehoko who was also a founding member and player at the club. Setla was a team made up mostly of players from the surrounding Sedibeng region. Following their relegation from the PSL, they were again demoted from the First Division Inland Stream and never returned to the professional ranks. The name Vaal Professionals remains alive today, with the team campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League.

Vasco da Gama

The Cape club played in the PSL for just one season – 2010/11 – after winning the NFD championship. Since their relegation, they have consistently featured in the First Division before being transferred to Stellenbosch two years ago under their current name Stellenbosch FC.

Witbank Aces

(became Mpumalanga Black Aces, now Cape Town City) AmaZayoni were Bob Save Super Bowl winners in 1993, but eventually became defunct after fading away at the turn of the new millennium, having turned out in the lower divisions after suffering relegation from the PSL in 1997. In 2007 the Morfou family then bought the First Division franchise of City Pillars and renamed the club Mpumalanga Black Aces before then moving to Witbank where it was partially based. Nine years later it was sold to John Comitis, leading to the rebirth of Cape Town City – a name synonymous with success in the dark days of apartheid. Comitis – a former player himself – has been the mastermind behind City’s successive top-five league finishes, as well as Telkom Knockout and MTN8 triumphs, while the Morfou brothers have since attempted to revive Aces with third-tier club Alexandra Black Aces.

Wits University

(now Bidvest Wits) Wits were crowned 2005/06 NFD champions after just one season in second-tier football, and have been a constant in the PSL since then. Though Bidvest Group bought a controlling stake in 2005, they have retained their roots at Wits University where they are still based. They were formed in 1921 and through KICK OFF’s existence have won the BP Top 8 (1995), Coca-Cola Cup (1995), Nedbank Cup (2010), MTN8 (2016), Telkom KnockOut (2017) and the PSL title (2016/17).