Soccer

Who are the DStv Premiership ever-presents?

You are currently viewing Who are the DStv Premiership ever-presents?
Yusuf Maart of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership 2023/24 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Richards Bay at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 23 December 2023 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
  • Post published:January 8, 2024

At the halfway mark of the season, there are 15 players who have been ever present for their clubs in the DStv Premiership this season.

Of them, six have competed every minute of every league game for their club.

AmaZulu: Flying fullback Riaan Hanamub has played a full 90 minutes in all but one of his 16 starts for the Durban club this season. He does not get any break as he had headed off to the Africa Cup of Nations finals with Namibia.

Cape Town City: Keanu Cupido has started all 16 league games for his side this season and finished all but two of those games. His reputation among the best centre backs in the league has grown rapidly, although Hugo Broos did not even include him in the preliminary squad for South Africa to take to the Africa Cup of Nations final in the Ivory Coast.

Cape Town Spurs: Skipper Clayton Daniels and fullback Rushwin Dortley have both started in 13 of the 16 matches that the struggling Mother City club have played.

Chippa United: Augustine Mulenga, on his return to the PSL after one season back home in AmaZulu, has proved the most consistent player for the struggling Gqeberha and is the only ever present in their squad after 16 league games.

Kaizer Chiefs: The midfield mainstay for AmaKhosi this season has been the 28-year-old Yusuf Maart, who has started every game and is the only ever present player, although winger Christian Saile has been involved in every league game, but started eight and come on as a sub in the other eight.

Lamontville Golden Arrows: Captain Velemseni Ndwandwe has had a career littered with injury so the fact he has not missed a minute of football in action with Arrows in their 15 league games this season will come as a delight to both him and his club.

Mamelodi Sundowns: With a total of 30 games played in all competitions in the first half of the campaign, it will come as no surprise that coach Rulani Mokwena has frequently shuffled his pack and therefore there are no Sundowns players who have a full house of league appearances. But goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has kept goal in 11 of their 13 league games to date.

Moroka Swallows: The 37-year-old goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and the promising fullback Keenan Phillips have not missed a minute of 14 matches that Swallows have played. But it remains to be seen whether Swallows will get to complete a full programme of 30 games after missing their last two matches because of a pay dispute between the clubs.

Orlando Pirates: Tapelo Xoki has started 14 of 16 league games for Pirates this season, sharing a defensive partnership with either Olisah Ndah or Nkosinathi Sibisi. Deon Hotto has been involved in all 16 games that Pirates have played but started 13 of those matches, mainly in his role as a makeshift left back.

Polokwane City: Newly promoted City have completed 16 matches in their DStv Premiership programme, with Tholo Matuludi and experienced midfielder Given Mashikinya starting all of them but only Lebohang Khaki, in his first top flight season, playing every minute of every game.

Richards Bay: As was the case last season when he missed only four games, Sanele Barns in again a consistent performer for Richards Bay with 14 starts out of a possible 16 this season.

Royal AM: The FIFA transfer ban on Royal AM means they have not brought in any new players but rather relied on the likes of Shaune Mogaikla, who has started all 15 league games they have played this season.

Sekhukhune United: The Polokwane club have had to juggle league matches with their participation in the African Confederation Cup and have no ever present players. But right back Nyiko Mobbie has missed only one game.

Stellenbosch: Devon Titus has started 14 of Stellenbosch’s 15 league games this season, missing only one in his campaign through suspension after the red card he picked up against Kaizer Chiefs in late August.

SuperSport United: Grant Margeman has been on the starting list in all 16 games for SuperSport in this DStv Premiership season, completing 13 of the games and building his reputation as a national team player of the future.

TS Galaxy: The Mbombela-based club are a model of consistency with three players having started all of their 15 matches in the league in this campaign. The centre back pairing of MacBeth Mahlangu and skipper Pogiso Sanoka have not missed a single minute of action. Mpho Mvelase went off in one of his 15 starts.