2008–09 South African Premiership

Season summary

SuperSport United defended their title to win their second consecutive Premiership title.

Orlando Pirates came close to taking the title in the final two games. Having drawn their penultimate game 1-1 against SuperSport, it went into the final game with SuperSport on 54 points - sitting two points clear with a superior goal difference. Pirates won their game against Amazulu 3-1, while SuperSport and Santos played out a goalless draw. Both teams were tied at the top of the points table with 55 points each.

SuperSport United won the league due to a greater goal difference, with +23 goals over Orlando Pirates's +17 goals.

Bay United were relegated to the National League after finishing at the bottom of the table on 21 points. Thanda Royal Zulu entered a playoff with teams from the National League to determine if they would retain their place in the Premiership or be relegated to the National League after ending 15th on the league table with 33 points.

Bloemfontein Celtic survived relegation on goal difference, ending 14th on the league table with 33 points. They were tied with Thanda Royal Zulu, but their goal difference were greater than that of Thanda Royal Zulu.

Clubs

• Ajax Cape Town
• AmaZulu
• Bay United
• Bidvest Wits
• Bloemfontein Celtic
• Free State Stars
• Golden Arrows
• Kaizer Chiefs
• Mamelodi Sundowns
• Maritzburg United
• Moroka Swallows
• Orlando Pirates
• Platinum Stars
• Santos
• Supersport United
• Thanda Royal Zulu

Promotion and relegation

Pre-Season

Teams promoted from 2007–08 National First Division

• Champions (Coastal Stream): Maritzburg United
• Play-offs: Bay United

Teams relegated to 2008–09 National First Division

• Last in Premiership: Black Leopards
• Play-offs: Jomo Cosmos

Post-Season

| RD1-seed1=1 | RD1-team1=Carara Kicks | RD1-score1-1=1 | RD1-score1-2=1 | RD1-score1-A=2 | RD1-seed2=2 | RD1-team2=Mpumalanga Black Aces | RD1-score2-1=1 | RD1-score2-2=2 | RD1-score2-A=3 | RD1-seed3=15 | RD1-team3=Thanda Royal Zulu | RD1-score3-1=0 | RD1-score3-2=1 | RD1-score3-A=1 | RD1-seed4=2 | RD1-team4=F.C. Cape Town | RD1-score4-1=0 | RD1-score4-2=1 | RD1-score4-A=1 | RD2-seed1=2 | RD2-team1=Mpumalanga Black Aces | RD2-score1-1=0 | RD2-score1-2=3 | RD2-score1-A=3 | RD2-seed2=15 | RD2-team2=Thanda Royal Zulu | RD2-score2-1=0 | RD2-score2-2=0 | RD2-score2-A=0

• Champions of the Inland Stream Jomo Cosmos took on Champions of the Costal Stream Carara Kicks in a two leg playoff for promotion to the Premiership.
• The first leg of the play-off saw the match end in a goalless draw at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on 7 May 2009.
• The second leg of the play-off saw Jomo Cosmos win Carara Kicks 2 – 1 at Vaal Technikon on 10 May 2009 to see Jomo Cosmos promoted to the Premiership.
• Thanda Royal Zulu who finished 15th on the Premiership table will go into a mini play-off tournament with Carara Kicks (who lost their play-off match with Jomo Cosmos), Mpumalanga Black Aces (who finished second in the Inland Stream) and F.C. Cape Town (who finished second in the Costal Stream).
• Carara Kicks will face Mpumalanga Black Aces and Thanda Royal Zulu will face F.C. Cape Town Teams promoted from 2008 to 2009 National First Division
• Champions (Inland Stream) Jomo Cosmos
• Play-offs: Mpumalanga Black Aces

Teams relegated to 2009–10 National First Division

• Last in Premiership: Bay United
• Play-offs: Thanda Royal Zulu

League table

Results

PSL Awards

Teko Modise was the biggest winner at the annual Premier Soccer League awards dinner on 24 May 2009 at Gold Reef City Casino, pocketing a whopping R400 000 after he was named Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.

It was the second time that the Orlando Pirates midfielder bagged the coveted Footballer of the Year honour, following his controversial win last season. This time, however, Modise's brilliance from the unusual left of midfield position helped Pirates mount a championship bid.

Lucas Thwala, who earlier this month was named Pirates' Player of the Season ahead of Modise, was named the Premiership Player of the Year.

Ajax Cape Town's Franklin Cale won the award for the Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

As of May 23, 2009

;19 goals

• South Africa Richard Henyekane (Golden Arrows)

;16 goals

• South Africa Mabhuti Khenyeza (Ajax Cape Town)

;10 goals

• Colombia Luis Rentería (Platinum Stars)
• South Africa Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Liberia Anthony Laffor (SuperSport United)
• South Africa Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu)
• South Africa Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars)

;9 goals

• South Africa Dumisani Ngwenya (AmaZulu)
• South Africa Katlego Mashego (Orlando Pirates)
• South Africa Gert Schalkwyk (Bloemfontein Celtic)
• South Africa Bradley Ritson (AmaZulu)

;8 goals

• Mozambique Elias Pelembe (SuperSport United)
• South Africa Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
• South Africa Nkosinathi Nhleko (SuperSport United)

;6 goals

• South Africa Sandile Ndlovu (Moroka Swallows)
• South Africa Geofrey Serunkuma (Bloemfontein Celtic)
• South Africa Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
• South Africa Tsholofelo Modise (Orlando Pirates)
• South Africa Fadlu Davids (Maritzburg United)
• Cote d'Ivoire Brice Aka (Maritzburg United)
• South Africa Tebego Langerman (Bidvest Wits)

;5 goals

--;

Premiership managers

Kits 2008–2009

Dec 2008/Jan 2009 Transfer Window

Attendances

Source:

References

References

1. (23 May 2009). "SA Premiership 2008–2009 Season Domestic Stats". football365.co.za.
2. (23 May 2009). "SA Premiership 2008–2009 Season Stats". football365.co.za.
3. (26 May 2009). "SA Premiership 2008–2009 Season Attendance Table". football365.co.za.
4. "Promotion playoffs draw".
5. "Absa Premiership".
6. link. (2009-05-26 2009 Premier Soccer League Awards)
7. "PSL TOP SCORERS 2008–09". Premier Soccer League.
8. https://www.espn.co.uk/football/stats/_/league/RSA.1/season/2008/view/performance/south-african-premiership