The 2008–09 South African Premiership, known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and also commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, was the thirteenth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.

Supersport United were the defending champions, having won their first Premiership title on the final day of the previous season. The campaign began in August 2008, ended in May 2009. A total of 16 teams contested in the league, 14 of which contested in the 2007–08 season, and two of which were promoted from the National First Division.

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

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. 2009 Premier Soccer League Awards

AwardWinnerClubPrize moneyPremier League ChampionsSupersport United-R10 000 000Footballer of the SeasonTeko ModiseOrlando PiratesR 250 000Premiership Player of the SeasonLucas ThwalaOrlando PiratesR 150 000Players' Player of the SeasonTeko ModiseOrlando PiratesR 150 000Young Player of the SeasonBongani KhumaloSupersport UnitedR 50 000Goalkeeper of the SeasonKennedy MweeneFree State StarsR 50 000Top Goal Scorer of the SeasonRichard HenyekaneGolden ArrowsR75 000Goal of the SeasonRyan BothaMoroka SwallowsR 50 000Chairman's AwardAndre Arendse & John MadukaSupersport United & Bloemfontein CelticShare R 100 000Coach of the SeasonGavin HuntSupersport UnitedR75 000Referee of the SeasonJerome Damon-R 50 000MTN8 Player of the TournamentGert SchalkwykKaizer ChiefsR 150 000Nedbank Cup Player of the TournamentMthokozisi YendePretoria UniversityR 100 000Telkom Knockout Player of the TournamentFranklin CaleAjax Cape TownR 200 000

Statistics

Top goalscorers As of May 23, 2009

19 goals Richard Henyekane (Golden Arrows)

16 goals Mabhuti Khenyeza (Ajax Cape Town)

10 goals Luis Rentería (Platinum Stars) Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns) Anthony Laffor (SuperSport United) Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu) Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars)

9 goals Dumisani Ngwenya (AmaZulu) Katlego Mashego (Orlando Pirates) Gert Schalkwyk (Bloemfontein Celtic) Bradley Ritson (AmaZulu)

8 goals Elias Pelembe (SuperSport United) Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates) Nkosinathi Nhleko (SuperSport United) ;

Premiership managers ManagerClubAppointed Craig RossleeAjax Cape TownJuly 2007 Clive BarkerAmaZuluJuly 2007 Khabo ZondoBay UnitedNovember 2008 Roger De SaBidvest WitsJune 2007 Owen Da GamaBloemfontein Celtic Steve KomphelaFree State Stars Manqoba MngqithiGolden ArrowsJanuary 2007 Fani MadidaKaizer ChiefsMay 2009 Ted DumitruMamelodi SundownsMarch 2009 Gordon IgesundMaritzburg UnitedJuly 2008 Júlio César LealMoroka SwallowsJuly 2008 Ruud KrolOrlando PiratesJuly 2008 David BrightSantosJanuary 2008 Miguel GamondiPlatinum StarsDecember 2007 Gavin HuntSupersport UnitedJune 2007 Roger PalmgrenThanda Royal ZuluAugust 2007

Kits 2008–2009 Team Supplier Shirt sponsor Ajax CT Adidas MTN AmaZulu Reebok SPAR Bay United Puma Vacant Bidvest Wits Hummel Bidvest Bloemfontein Celtic Reebok Vodacom Engen Santos Canterbury Engen Free State Stars Umbro Bonitas Golden Arrows Umbro MTN Kaizer Chiefs Nike Vodacom Mamelodi Sundowns Nike Vacant Maritzburg United Joma Vacant Moroka Swallows Mitre VW Orlando Pirates Adidas Vodacom Platinum Stars Diadora Dunns Supersport United Diadora DStv Thanda Royal Zulu Lotto Vacant

Dec 2008/Jan 2009 Transfer Window

Name Last registration To club Tsweu Mokoro Moroka Swallows Ajax Cape Town Tawfeeq Salie Ajax Cape Town Ajax Cape Town Stanton Lewis Unspecified Ajax Cape Town Thamsanqa Sangweni Unspecified AmaZulu Bradley Ritson AmaZulu AmaZulu Jean Njoh Unspecified Bay United Nhlanhla Vilakazi Golden Arrows Bay United Bulelani Matross Hanover Park Bay United Samuel Ramosoeu Bidboys Bidvest Wits Tebogo Langerman Bidboys Bidvest Wits Calvin Kadi Supersport United Bidvest Wits

Attendances Source:

No. Club Average 1 Kaizer Chiefs 18,935 2 Bloemfontein Celtic 15,969 3 Orlando Pirates 15,869 4 Bay United 7,869 5 Ajax Cape Town 7,229 6 Mamelodi Sundowns 7,695 7 AmaZulu 5,835 8 Free State Stars 5,462 9 Engen Santos 5,015 10 Maritzburg United 4,969 11 SuperSport United 4,902 12 Lamontville Golden Arrows 4,635 13 Moroka Swallows 4,582 14 Thanda Royal Zulu 4,302 15 Bidvest Wits 3,015 16 Platinum Stars 2,981

References

External links Premier Soccer League (PSL) Official Website RSSSF competition overview