2014–15 South African Premier Division

The 2014–15 South African Premier Division season (known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the nineteenth season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996.Fixtures were announced 5 June 2014.[3] The league opened on 8 August 2014 and will conclude on 9 May 2015.

South African Premier Division
Season2014–15
ChampionsKaizer Chiefs
RelegatedAmaZulu
Champions LeagueKaizer Chiefs
Mamelodi Sundowns
Confederation CupAjax Cape Town
Bidvest Wits University
Matches played240
Goals scored555 (2.31 per match)
Top goalscorerMoeketsi Sekola (14)[1]
Biggest home winSundowns 5–0 Polokwane City[2]
(11 March 2015)
Biggest away winSundowns 0–5 Bloem Celtic[2]
(15 April 2014)
Highest scoringSupersort 2–5 AmaZulu[2]
(1 March 2015)
Longest winning run8 games[2]
Kaizer Chiefs
Longest unbeaten run19 games[2]
Kaizer Chiefs
Longest winless run12 games[2]
AmaZulu
Longest losing run4 games[2]
Polokwane City
Moroka Swallows
Highest attendance88,000[2]
Kaizer Chiefs 0–2 Orlando Pirates
(6 December 2014)
Lowest attendance100[2]
Moroka Swallows 2–1 AmaZulu
(13 August 2014)
Average attendance6,499[2]
All statistics correct as of 24 April 2015.

Mamelodi Sundowns were the defending champions, having won the previous 2013–14 South African Premier Division (PSL) season. Chippa United earned their second promotion to the top-tier league after winning the 2013-14 National First Division. Polokwane City remained in the league after beating Black Leopards and Milano United in the Playoff Tournament.

Teams

Stadiums and locations

Football teams in South Africa tend to use multiple stadiums over the course of a season for their home games. The following table will only indicate the stadium used most often by the club for their home games[4]

TeamProvinceHome venueCapacity
Ajax Cape TownWestern CapeCape Town Stadium55,000
AmaZuluKwazulu-NatalMoses Mabhida Stadium54,000
Bidvest WitsGautengBidvest Stadium5,000
Bloemfontein CelticFree StateSeisa Ramabodu Stadium20,000
Chippa UnitedEastern CapeNelson Mandela Bay Stadium49,000
Free State StarsFree StateCharles Mopeli Stadium35,000
Kaizer ChiefsGautengFNB Stadium (Soccer City)94,700
Mamelodi SundownsGautengLoftus Versfeld Stadium52,000
Maritzburg UnitedKwazulu-NatalHarry Gwala Stadium10,700
Moroka SwallowsGautengDobsonville Stadium24,000
Mpumalanga Black AcesMpumalangaMbombela Stadium40,900
Orlando PiratesGautengOrlando Stadium36,400
Platinum StarsNorth WestRoyal Bafokeng Stadium45,000
Polokwane CityLimpopoPeter Mokaba Stadium41,733
Supersport UnitedGautengLucas Moripe Stadium28,900
Tuks FCGautengTuks Stadium8,000[5]

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerSupplierShirt sponsor
Ajax Cape Town Roger De Sa[6]Adidas[7]Huawei[8]
AmaZulu Wilfred Mugeyi[9]Kappa[10]SPAR[11]
Bidvest Wits Gavin Hunt[12]Kappa[13]Bidvest[14]
Polokwane City Kosta Papic[15]XCOVacant
Bloemfontein Celtic Ernst Middendorp[16]Kappa[17]MTN[18]
Free State Stars Tom Saintfiet[19]Maxed[20]Bonitas
Chippa Unitedvacant[21]Nike[22]Chippa Holdings
Kaizer Chiefs Stuart Baxter[23]Nike[24]Vodacom[25]
Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane[26]Nike[27]Ubuntu Botho
Maritzburg United Steve Komphela[28]Umbro[29]Vacant
Moroka Swallows Fani Madida (Interim)[30]Puma[31]Hyundai
Mpumalanga Black Aces Clive Barker[32]Umbro[33]ISPS Handa[34]
Orlando Pirates Vladimir Vermezovic[35]Adidas[36]Vodacom[25]
Platinum Stars Allan Freese[37]Acelli[38]The Royal Marang Hotel
Supersport United Gordon Igesund[39]Kappa[40]Engen Petroleum[41]
Tuks FC Steve Barker[42]Umbro[43]WorkersLife[44]

[45]

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Kaizer Chiefs (C, Q)3021634114+2769Qualification for 2016 CAF Champions League
2Mamelodi Sundowns (Q)3016954424+2057
3Bidvest Wits (Q)3015783425+952Qualification for 2016 CAF Confederation Cup
4Orlando Pirates30131164629+1750
5Ajax Cape Town (Q)30128103435−144Qualification for 2016 CAF Confederation Cup
6Supersport United30125133940−141
7Bloemfontein Celtic30117123427+740
8Maritzburg United301010103025+540
9Free State Stars30108123439−538
10Mpumalanga Black Aces30713103539−434
11Platinum Stars30810123038−834
12Polokwane City3097144260−1834
13University of Pretoria30711122832−432
14Chippa United3079142337−1430
15Moroka Swallows3086163047−1730Qualification for PSL Playoff Tournament
16AmaZulu (R)3069153144−1327Relegation to National First Division
Updated to match(es) played on 9 May 2015. Source: http://www.espnfc.com/south-african-premiership/2197/table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of 24 October 2014
RankPlayerClubGoals[46]
1 Moeketsi SekolaFree State Stars14
2 Lerato Trevor LamolaBloemfontein Celtic13
3 Puleng TlolanePolokwane City11
4 Kermit ErasmusOrlando Pirates10
Cuthbert MalajilaMamelodi Sundowns10
6 Jeremy BrockieSupersport United8
Ndumiso MabenaPlatinum Stars8
Lehlohonolo MajoroOrlando Pirates8
9 Khama BilliatMamelodi Sundowns7
George LebeseKaizer Chiefs7
Thabo MnyamanePretoria University7
Siyabonga NomvetheMoroka Swallows7
Atusaye NyondoPretoria University7
Bernard ParkerKaizer Chiefs7
Eleazar RodgersPlatinum Stars7

Clean sheets

As of 28 September 2014
RankPlayerClubClean sheets[47]
1 Itumeleng KhuneKaizer Chiefs4
Kennedy MweeneMamelodi Sundowns

Discipline

Player

As of 24 April 2015
  • Most yellow cards:[48] 9
  • Most red cards:[48] 2
    • Vuyisile Ntombayithethi (University of Pretoria)
    • Siyabonga Ngubane (University of Pretoria)

Club

As of 29 October 2014
  • Most yellow cards:[49] 20
    • Chippa United
    • Moroka Swallows
  • Most red cards:[49] 2
    • University of Pretoria
    • Platinum Stars
    • Ajax Cape Town
    • Kaizer Chiefs
    • Free State Stars

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthABSA Premiership Coach of the MonthABSA Premiership Player of the MonthReference
ManagerClubPlayerClub
August Stuart BaxterKaizer Chiefs Mandla MasangoKaizer Chiefs[50]

Source: Premier Soccer League

See also

References