Most sports fans in South Africa know their Manchester Uniteds from their Arsenals, but not their AmaZulus from their Free State Stars. iafrica's Khaya Ndubane sets the record straight.

Worse yet, ask some local soccer fans who was relegated from the English Premiership at the end of last season and odds are most answers will be correct.

Surely, South Africans should make an effort to get to know their own local league, with the 2010 World Cup drawing closer with each passing day?

Readers, do you know that Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards were the two teams to drop down from our Absa Premiership after a competitive 2007/08 league season? Do you even know who replaced them in SA's top-flight this season?

Khaya answers these questions, and more, in iafrica.com's idiot's guide to the PSL!

Q: What is the Premier Soccer League?
A: The Premier Soccer League, or the PSL as it is more commonly known, is the trading name of the National Soccer League (NSL) of South Africa.

Q: When was the PSL formed?
A: It was founded in 1996.

Q: Who is the current PSL CEO and who did he succeed?
A: Norwegian Kjetil Siem replaced Englishman Trevor Phillips as the PSL boss during the middle of 2007. Siem is a former sports journalist and writer, having worked for Norway's largest broadcaster, TV2, for six years.

Q: How many teams play in SA's current top-flight league competition, the Absa Premiership?
A: Sixteen teams (see below in alphabetical order)
- Ajax Cape Town (Second in 2007/08)
- AmaZulu (13th)
- Bay United (Promoted from Mvela League)
- BidVest Wits (12th)
- Bloemfontein Celtic (11th)
- Free State Stars (Fifth)
- Golden Arrows (Ninth)
- Kaizer Chiefs (Sixth)
- Maritzburg United (Promoted from Mvela League)
- Moroka Swallows (Seventh)
- Orlando Pirates (Eighth)
- Platinum Stars (10)
- Santos (Third)
- Sundowns (Fourth)
- Supersport United (First)
- Thanda Royal Zulu (14th)

Q: Which team won the first-ever PSL league title?
A: Manning Rangers.

Q: Who was Rangers coach when they won the league that season?
A: Gordon Igesund was the man in charge of Rangers.

Q: Who is the PSL Chairman and which club does he/she belong to?
A: Dr Irvin Khoza, who is also the Chairman of Orlando Pirates.

Q: Which team has won the most number of PSL titles?
A: Mamelodi Sundows have won the league five times, followed by Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, both of whom have claimed two titles.

Q: Who holds the record for the number of goals scored per season?
A: Collins Mbesuma.

Q: How many goals did he score?
A: He scored 25 goals for Kaizer Chiefs during the 2004/05 season.

Q: Who is the youngest goal-scorer in PSL history?
A: Thulani Ngcephe of Moroka Swallows was 16 years old when he scored his first goal for the 'Birds' in 2007.

Q: Which player has scored the most goals in a single PSL match?
A: James Chamanga of Moroka Swallows — he scored five goals against Platinum Stars in 2007.

Q: Which coach has won the most number of PSL titles?
A: Gordon Igesund has won the league four times with four different teams — with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Q: Which teams are the most popular teams in the PSL
A: Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic.

Q: What about all the knockout tournaments — are they part of the PSL?
A: Yes, knockout competitions are part of the PSL and are played before, during and after the league.

Q: How many knockout tournaments does the PSL have?
A: Three — The MTN8, Nedbank Cup and the Telkom Knockout. Kaizer Chiefs will meet Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the 2008 MTN8, whilst Mamelodi Sundowns won last year's Nedbank Cup and Kaizer Chiefs are the defending Telkom Knockout champions.

Q: Which tournament has the biggest prize money?
A: The MTN8 — which has replaced the old SAA Supa8 — is worth R8-million.

Q: What is the Mvela Golden League all about?
A: It is South Africa's First Division, i.e., the division below the Absa Premiership.

Q: Who plays in the Mvela Golden League?
A: There are two streams of eight within the MVL, the Coastal and Inland Streams, with a total of 16 teams in SA's National First Division:
Coastal Stream:
African Warriors
Carara Kicks
Durban Stars
FC Cape Town
Hanover Park
Ikapa Sporting
Nathi Lions
Vasco da Gama

Inland Stream:
Black Leopards (Relegated from PSL)
Dynamos
FC AK
Mpumalanga Black Aces
Jomo Cosmos (Relegated from PSL)
University of Pretoria
Winners Park
Witbank Spurs

  • Click HERE for our team-by-team PSL guide...

  • Did Khaya miss anything out? Leave a comment below!
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