2015–16 South African Premier Division

The 2015–16 South African Premier Division season (known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is the twentieth season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996.

South African Premier Division
Season2015–16
ChampionsMamelodi Sundowns (7th title)
RelegatedJomo Cosmos
Champions LeagueBV Wits
Mamelodi Sundowns
Confederation CupPlatinum Stars
SuperSport United
Matches played240
Goals scored562 (2.34 per match)
Top goalscorerCollins Mbesuma (14)
Biggest home win
3 matches
Biggest away winPlatinum Stars 0-4 BV Wits
(4 November 2015)
Highest scoring
2 matches
Longest winning runMamelodi Sundowns (6)
Longest unbeaten runMamelodi Sundowns (18)
Longest winless runBloemfontein Celtic
Maritzburg United
Univ. of Pretoria (9)
Longest losing runMaritzburg United (8)
Average attendance6,520[1]
All statistics correct as of 21 May 2016.

Mamelodi Sundowns won their seventh league title in dominant fashion, finishing 14 points ahead of second-place BV Wits. League newcomers Jomo Cosmos fell into last place for the first all year in their final game and will be relegated to the National First Division for the 2016-17 season.

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[2]

TeamCityHome venueCapacity
Ajax Cape TownCape TownCape Town Stadium69,070
BV WitsJohannesburgBidvest Stadium15,000
Bloemfontein CelticBloemfonteinFree State Stadium40,911
Chippa UnitedPort ElizabethNelson Mandela Bay Stadium48,459
Free State StarsPhuthaditjhabaCharles Mopeli Stadium50,000
Golden ArrowsDurbanPrincess Magogo Stadium12,000
Jomo CosmosTembisaMakhulong Stadium20,000
Kaizer ChiefsJohannesburgFNB Stadium (Soccer City)94,736
Mamelodi SundownsPretoriaLucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium23,900
Maritzburg UnitedPietermaritzburgHarry Gwala Stadium22,000
Mpumalanga Black AcesNelspruitMbombela Stadium43,589
Orlando PiratesJohannesburgOrlando Stadium40,000
Platinum StarsPhokengRoyal Bafokeng Stadium44,530
Polokwane CityPolokwanePeter Mokaba Stadium45,000
SuperSport UnitedPretoriaLucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium23,900
University of PretoriaPretoriaTuks Stadium8,000[3]

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerSupplierShirt sponsor
Ajax Cape Town Roger De Sá[4]Adidas[5]Huawei[6]
BV Wits Gavin Hunt[7]Kappa[8]Bidvest[9]
Bloemfontein Celtic Clinton LarsenKappa[10]MTN[11]
Chippa United Roger SikhakhaneNike[12]Chippa Holdings
Free State Stars Kinnah PhiriMaxed[13]Bonitas
Golden Arrows Serame LetsoakaMilleVacant
Jomo Cosmos Jomo SonoPumaVacant
Kaizer Chiefs Steve KomphelaNike[14]Vodacom[15]
Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane[16]Nike[17]Ubuntu Botho
Maritzburg United Mandla NcikaziUmbro[18]Vacant
Mpumalanga Black Aces Muhsin ErtuğralUmbro[19]ISPS Handa[20]
Orlando Pirates Eric TinklerAdidas[21]Vodacom[15]
Platinum Stars Cavin JohnsonAcelli[22]The Royal Marang Hotel
Polokwane City Kosta Papić[23]XCOVacant
SuperSport United Gordon Igesund[24]Kappa[25]Engen Petroleum[26]
University of Pretoria Sammy TroughtonUmbro[27]WorkersLife[28]

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Mamelodi Sundowns (C)3022535520+3571Qualification for 2017 CAF Champions League
2Bidvest Wits3017674424+2057
3Platinum Stars3013984133+847[a]Qualification for 2017 CAF Confederation Cup[b]
4Mpumalanga Black Aces30121173729+847
5Kaizer Chiefs30111363830+846
6Chippa United30136114239+345
7Orlando Pirates30118113830+841
8SuperSport United301010103638−240Qualification for 2017 CAF Confederation Cup[b]
9Golden Arrows30117122835−740
10Ajax Cape Town30910113441−737
11Bloemfontein Celtic30812103026+436
12Free State Stars3098132837−935
13Polokwane City30710133144−1331
14Maritzburg United3069153553−1827
15University of Pretoria (R)3067172542−1725Qualification for PSL Playoff Tournament
16Jomo Cosmos (R)3067172041−2125Relegation to National First Division
Updated to match(es) played on 21 May 2016. Source: http://www.espnfc.com/south-african-premiership/2197/table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) playoff
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Mamelodi Sundowns6281076552221211111111111111111
BV Wits293214113112132332222222222222
Platinum Stars6115421221455665555555333343333
Mpumalanga Black Aces331532334333323223344555555554
Kaizer Chiefs614355646544444444433444434445
Chippa United6157111399108889976676666767877766
Orlando Pirates146129101111131210111310111113127977676666677
SuperSport United3368121314111112988101010101281110111010788898
Golden Arrows351078887777655779117989111111119989
Ajax Cape Town1382167789912121212121113810811109910910101210
Bloemfontein Celtic12139643465667799989111212121212121212121011
Free State Stars1416161491010910111310118886101210988891011111112
Polokwane City11011121112131214131011131313121113131313131313131313131313
Maritzburg United61415161616161616161616161616161616161616161616161616161514
Univ. of Pretoria14714151414121415151515151515151515151515141514141415151615
Jomo Cosmos61213131515151513141414141414141414141414151415151514141416
Leader
2017 CAF Champions League or 2017 CAF Confederation Cup
Relegation to National First Division or Playoff Tournament
Updated to match(es) played on 21 May 2016. Source: Soccerway (in French)

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of 21 May 2016
RankPlayerClubGoals[30]
1 Collins MbesumaBlack Aces14
2 Thobani MncwangoPolokwane13
Prince NxumaloAjax13
4 Khama BilliatMamelodi12
5 Jeremy BrockieSuperSport Utd11
6 Leonardo CastroMamelodi10
Ndumiso MabenaPlatinum10
8 Evans RusikeMaritzburg Utd9
9 Willard KatsandeKaizer Chiefs7
James KeeneWits7
Daine KlateWits7
Mpho MakolaPirates7
Lerato ManzineChippa Utd7
Sibusiso VilakaziWits7

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Thobani Mncwango4Polokwane CitySuperSport United4-1[31]16 January 2016
James KeeneBV WitsPolokwane City5-0[32]22 January 2016
Jeremy BrockieSuperSport UnitedJomo Cosmos2-4[33]27 February 2016
Lerato ManziniChippa UnitedPlatinum Stars4-1[34]27 April 2016
Frank Mhango4Golden ArrowsMpumalanga Black Aces2-4[35]27 April 2016
Anthony LafforMamelodi SundownsUniversity of Pretoria0-3[36]4 May 2016

4 Player scored 4 goals.

See also

References