DStv Premiership
A preview of the 16 clubs that will compete in the DStv Premiership in 2021-22.
The new DStv Premiership season is under way with the 16 top-flight clubs all starting on a clean slate. Mamelodi Sundowns start as the hot favourites again, but the question is who can emerge from the challengers to make a contest out of the title race? KICK OFF’s Nick Said assesses the potential fortunes of the teams vying for the top prize in South African football.
AMAZULU
COACH Benni McCarthy
KEY SIGNING Keagan Buchanan – If the silky midfielder can stay fit and mentally focused, there is no doubt he is one of the leading players in the DStv Premiership. At the age of 30, it is now or never for him.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 2nd 2019-20: 13th 2018-19: 11th 2017-18: 9th 2016-17: 5th (second-tier) MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Siyethemba Sithebe (25)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Luvuyo Memela, Lehlohonolo Majoro (both 8)
PROSPECTS Benni McCarthy has engineered a revolution at AmaZulu but the key now will be maintaining the standards they set last year. He will know more than anyone how difficult that will be, and there will certainly be more pressure on the side this time round given shock success. To get into the top three again would be a major achievement, but is likely beyond them.
BAROKA FC
COACH Thoka Matsemela
KEY SIGNING Evidence Makgopa – Baroka have sold their star striker to Orlando Pirates amid heavy interest from Europe, but have loaned him back for the campaign so technically is a new signing. He can be a 15-20 goal striker if they can get the service into him.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 10th 2019-20: 14th 2018-19: 14th 2017-18: 14th 2016-17: 15th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Bonginkosi Makume (28)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Evidence Makgopa (7)
PROSPECTS Baroka FC had their best topflight season in 2020-21 as for once they did not find themselves flirting with relegation and were in fact contenders for a top-eight place going into the final few rounds of the campaign. It is a platform to build on, but there is little to suggest they will better than that showing and, in all likelihood, will be in the bottom half again.
BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC
COACH John Maduka
KEY SIGNING None – Celtic have been hit with a transfer ban by FIFA which means they cannot bring in players in either this transfer window or the one in January. The club were found guilty of failing to pay monies owed to former goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 11th 2019-20: 8th 2018-19: 8th 2017-18: 11th 2016-17: 12th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Lucky Baloyi (26)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Victor Letsoalo (8)
PROSPECTS Bloemfontein Celtic will be hamstrung by their transfer ban but do at least have an experienced squad of players who, with all the money problems the club have endured in recent seasons, are at least battle-hardened and mentally tough. But having also lost some top players this may be a season of struggle for the side that could end in a relegation fight.
CAPE TOWN CITY
COACH Eric Tinkler
KEY SIGNING Darren Keet – The loss of Peter Leeuwenburgh to Dutch side Groningen looked a huge one, but Keet is an excellent replacement and among the most reliable glovemen in the domestic league.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 7th 2019-20: 6th 2018-19: 4th 2017-18: 5th 2016-17: 3rd MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Thato Mokeke (29)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Fagrie Lakay, Mduduzi Mdantsane (both 9)
PROSPECTS Tinkler will bring PSL knowhow and detailed preparation into matches as the club seeks to arrest what has been a steady slide down the table in recent seasons. Top eight is a bare minimum, and there are certainly the players to compete near the top of the table. But it seems likely they will finish somewhere between fourth and sixth.
CHIPPA UNITED
COACH Gavin Hunt
KEY SIGNING None – At the time of writing, Chippa United were still assessing transfer targets under new coach Hunt. The only arrival was midfielder Aboubacar Sangare from Jomo Cosmos.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 15th 2019-20: 11th 2018-19: 12th 2017-18: 10th 2016-17: 13th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Riaan Hanamub (29)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Bienvenu Eva Nga (5)
PROSPECTS This promises to be one of the great sideshows of the season – a trigger-happy boss who has no patience with coaches versus one of the best tacticians in the league at a club packed with potential but with the tendency to shoot themselves in the foot. Key will be whether Hunt can get the players he wants in the squad to play his brand of football. Anywhere from eighth to 15th is possible.
KAIZER CHIEFS
COACH Stuart Baxter
KEY SIGNING Kgaogelo Sekgota – Kaizer Chiefs have beefed up considerably defensively but that was never their biggest problem. They need more potency on attack and Sekgota should be perfect for coach Baxter’s ‘transitions’ game-plan.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 8th 2019-20: 2nd 2018-19: 9th 2017-18: 3rd 2016-17: 4th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Daniel Cardoso (28)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Lebo Manyama (8)
PROSPECTS One thing that is clear is that Chiefs will be better than they were last season, largely because they have finally been able to freshen up the squad and look to have invested well in the transfer market. Will that make them title challengers? You would think they will be up near the top of the table, though a lack of rest and any sort of proper pre-season could hurt them.
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS
COACH Lehlohonolo Seema
KEY SIGNING Andile Fikizolo – Golden Arrows have tapped into the GladAfrica Championship for the majority of their new signings and brought in players with no experience of top-flight football. Attacking midfielder Fikizolo returns for a second spell at the club however, and understands what is expected at this level.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 4th 2019-20: 12th 2018-19: 10th 2017-18: 8th 2016-17: 8th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Sifiso Mlungwana (30)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21 Michael Gumede, Velemseni Ndwandwe (both 7)
PROSPECTS Lamontville Golden Arrows beat all expectations to finish fourth last season, but have since lost a number of key players, as well as inspirational coach Mandla Ncikazi. Lehlohonolo Seema has come in with plenty to prove and a lot of top-flight rookies in his squad. Top eight would be a good achievement again, but it is more likely they will finish between positions 10 and 13.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS CO-COACHES
Manqoba Mngqithi, Rhulani Mokwena
KEY SIGNING Divine Lunga – The Zimbabwe international left-back deserves his chance at one of the ‘Big Three’ having been outstanding for a number of seasons with Lamontville Golden Arrows. He is a solid defender, but loves to get forward. An excellent, experienced addition.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 1st 2019-20: 1st 2018-19: 1st 2017-18: 1st 2016-17: 2nd MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Lebohang Maboe (27)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Peter Shalulile (15)
PROSPECTS It is hard to see how Mamelodi Sundowns will not win the league for a fifth successive season and it has to be said anything but a DStv Premiership victory should be seen as a major failure given the quality of squad they have developed over the last few years. There are no real weaknesses in the side, with perhaps only the drive and desire of the players to keep on being successful the one variable. But they should be champions again.
MARITZBURG UNITED
COACH Ernst Middendorp
KEY SIGNING Rowan Human – Maritzburg United struggled for goals at times last season, with creativity in midfield an issue. Human has pace and skill with the ball at his feet, and should add greatly to their attacking options from the middle of the park. He could be one of the young stars of the top-flight this season.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 13th 2019-20: 7th 2018-19: 15th 2017-18: 4th 2016-17: 7th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Daylon Claasen (27)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Thabiso Kutumela (12)
PROSPECTS Having survived relegation last season the club will now be looking to avoid being sucked into the bottom half again and if history is anything to go by, they do generally follow a bad season with a good one. Coach Ernst Middendorp is a canny operator and will know what the teams needs to be successful, though the loss of striker Thabiso Kutumela is a big blow.
MARUMO GALLANTS COACH
Sebastien Migné
KEY SIGNING Zaid Patel – Scoring was a real issue for the club last season, with no player managing more than three goals. Patel returns from a spell in the lower leagues in Spain and will be hoping to show what he has learnt in his time away from the PSL. Something of a journeyman striker, this is a chance to finally fulfill his potential.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 12th 2019-20: 3rd (second-tier) 2018-19: 3rd (second-tier) 2017-18: 6th (second-tier) 2016-17: - MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Washington Arubi (28)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Alfred Ndengane, Thabo Rakhale (both 3)
PROSPECTS Dylan Kerr steered TTM, as they were known last season, to safety but could not agree a new deal and has been replaced by Frenchman Sebastien Migné. The latter takes charge as a head coach of a club side for the first time in his career, despite success at international level with Kenya, and also spells with Congo-Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea. The foibles of South African football will be a steep learning curve for him and this could be another season of struggle for the side.
ORLANDO PIRATES
COACH Josef Zinnbauer
KEY SIGNING Goodman Mosele – There is certainly enough attacking talent in the Orlando Pirates squad for them to compete for top honours, but winning the ascendancy in midfield to control games is crucial too and highly-rated youngster Mosele looks a quality addition in that regard.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 3rd 2019-20: 3rd 2018-19: 2nd 2017-18: 2nd 2016-17: 11th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Deon Hotto (26)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21 Vincent Pule (6) PROSPECTS Coach Josef Zinnbauer has been given another opportunity to steer Orlando Pirates to a first league title since the 2011-12 season and certainly they have enough in their squad to make that a possibility. Whether he can find the goals he needs remains to be seen, but the team will be typically compact and difficult to break down. Top three looks on the cards again.
STELLENBOSCH FC
COACH Steve Barker
KEY SIGNING Junior Mendieta – The Argentine playmaker was on loan last season but has made his move permanent. For a club that battled to score goals in the final third of the campaign, he is crucial in unlocking opposition defences.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 14th 2019-20: 10th 2018-19: 1st (second tier) 2017-18: 8th (second tier) 2016-17: 3rd (second tier)
MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Marc van Heerden (28) MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Stanley Dimgba (6)
PROSPECTS Stellenbosch FC had a horror run towards the end of last season that is difficult to explain given the talent in their squad, but it is unlikely to be repeated this time round. They should be top eight contenders, and will see that as probably their minimum ambition, but could just miss out. They will likely end somewhere between eighth and 10th.
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED COACH
MacDonald Makhubedu
KEY SIGNING Seun Ledwaba – Once on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns, Ledwaba never really got a shot at the top-flight bar some games for Highlands Park in 2016-17. But having arrived from Jomo Cosmos will now have a point to prove. He will look to give them balance in the midfield.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 1st (second-tier) 2019-20: - 2018-19: - 2017-18: - 2016-17: - MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Yusuf Maart (27)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Katlego Cwinyane, Thabang Sibanyoni, Prince Nxumalo (all 6)
PROSPECTS The top-flight new-boys have made some impressive signings but the step-up to the DStv Premiership is not as easy as Swallows FC made it look at times last season. Sekhukhune United, who have only been in existence for a little over a year and have a coach that has only briefly worked in the top division before, will have to hit the ground running but will do well to avoid the bottom three.
SUPERSPORT UNITED
COACH Kaitano Tembo
KEY SIGNING None – Cash-strapped SuperSport United have been slow in the transfer market so far and have yet to add significantly to their squad.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 5th 2019-20: 5th 2018-19: 6th 2017-18: 7th 2016-17: 5th MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Ronwen Williams (26)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Bradley Grobler (16)
PROSPECTS SuperSport United’s top players have challenged the club management to make them a leading force again, but that looks unlikely to happen this coming season. They have actually been very consistent of late, finishing fifth in three of the last five seasons, and ending sixth and seventh in the other two years. Fourth to sixth looks likely again.
SWALLOWS FC
COACH Brandon Truter
KEY SIGNING Mwape Musonda - Swallows have been busy in the transfer market and added a number of new players, but they need an experienced goal-scorer and Musonda is just that.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 6th 2019-20: 1st (second-tier) 2018-19: - 2017-18: - 2016-17: - MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Njabulo Ngcobo (28)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Ruzaigh Gamildien (11)
PROSPECTS Swallows beat all expectations last season as they finished in sixth, which might have been better had they not succumbed to a PSL record 20 draws. They have lost some top talent though and could find it hard to repeat that finish again. Top eight should be the target, but even that could be a stretch.
TS GALAXY
COACH Owen da Gama
KEY SIGNING Augustine Kwem – The powerful Nigerian forward will add some muscle to their forward line and looked an accomplished finisher following his arrival from Chippa United. He has the potential to be a real hit.
LAST FIVE SEASONS 2020-21: 9th 2019-20: 10th (second-tier) 2018-19: 8th (second-tier) 2017-18: - 2016-17: - MOST STARTS IN 2020-21
Lindokuhle Mbatha (23)
MOST GOALS IN 2020-21
Lindokuhle Mbatha, Mxolisi Macuphu (both 5)
PROSPECTS TS Galaxy are the kind of side who can beat anyone on their day, but can also come up short when expected to do well, making them difficult to predict. They narrowly missed out on the top eight last season and will likely do so again, though in Owen da Gama they have a coach with a history of getting the best out of his players. Ninth to 12th looks likely again.