South Africa's 2011–12 Premier Soccer League season (known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the sixteenth since its establishment. Orlando Pirates were the defending champions, having won their third PSL title, and in the process ended SuperSport United's 3 year grip on the championship. The season kicked off on 12 August 2011 and ended on 19 May 2012.[13][14]
16 teams contested the season, including two newly promoted teams – yo-yo club Jomo Cosmos[15] – who were promoted for the second time in 3 seasons after winning the 2010–11 National First Division champions' playoff 5–4 on penalties against Bay United, and Black Leopards[16] who came through a four-way promotion playoff, defeating Bay United 2–0 over a two-legged final. Orlando Pirates secured the title with a 4–2 win against Golden Arrows on 19 May 2012.[17] This was their fourth PSL title overall and the second in succession. At the bottom, Jomo Cosmos was automatically relegated to the First Division[18] while Santos was relegated via the PSL Playoff Tournament.[19][20][21]
TV rights edit
The PSL announced that current digital broadcaster SuperSport had won the rights to continue broadcasting the PSL after their current contract expired at the end of the 2011–12 season. The new broadcasting deal will commence at the start of the 2012–13 season and is said to be worth R2 billion over five years. As with their outgoing contract, SuperSport will continue to lease a select number of matches to free-to-air public broadcaster SABC.[22]
Teams edit
The team finishing 16th and last during the 2010–11 PSL season – Mpumalanga Black Aces – was automatically relegated from the PSL while the team finishing 15th – Vasco da Gama – was entered into a four-way relegation/promotion playoff with 3 teams from the 2010–11 National First Division season, where they were comfortably beaten 4–2 on aggregate by Black Leopards in the semi-finals and thus relegated from the PSL. As it was, both Black Aces and Vasco had been promoted in the previous season, so they each spent a single season in the top flight before going straight back down.[citation needed]
Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards had finished first and second in the Inland Stream of the 2010–11 National First Division season. Cosmos, as champions of the Inland Stream, faced off against the champions of the Coastal Stream – Bay United – and beat them 5–4 on penalties after two goalless draws, thus securing promotion to the PSL. In the next phase of the relegation/promotion playoffs Black Leopards had taken on and defeated Vasco da Gama of the PSL over two legs and proceeded to reach the final of the playoffs, where they met Bay United. Leopards continued Bay United's heartbreaking end to their season by defeating them over two legs to earn a return to the PSL after two seasons out of the top flight.[citation needed]
Stadiums and locations edit
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
Personnel and kits edit
Managerial changes edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajax CT |  Foppe de Haan | Retirement | 21 May 2011[23] | End of season | Maarten Stekelenburg | 21 June 2011[24] |
| Orlando Pirates | Ruud Krol | End of contract | June 2011[25] | End of season |  Júlio César Leal | 22 June 2011[26] |
| Amazulu |  Manqoba Mngqithi | Sacked | 18 September 2011[27] | 15th |  Roger Palmgren | 18 September 2011[28] |
| Black Leopards |  Sunday Chidzambwa | Redeployed | 26 October 2011[29] |  Vladislav Heric | 26 October 2011[30] | |
| Santos | Boebie Solomons | Redeployed | 8 December 2011[31] | 14th | Duncan Crowie | 8 December 2011[32] |
| Platinum Stars | Owen Da Gama | Suspended | 9 March 2012[33] | 13th | Cavin Johnson & Allan Freese | 9 March 2012 |
| Orlando Pirates | Júlio César Leal | Sacked | 12 March 2012[34] |  Augusto Palacios | 12 March 2012[35] | |
| Kaizer Chiefs | Vladimir Vermezovic | Sacked | 12 April 2012[36] | Ace Khuse | 12 March 2012 | |
| Santos | Duncan Crowie | Caretaker period ended | 19 April 2012[37] | 15th | Mart Nooij | 19 April 2012[38] |
| Black Leopards | Vladislav Heric | Redeployed | 8 May 2012[39] | 14th | Sunday Chidzambwa | 8 May 2012 |
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Pirates (C, Q) | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 26 | +13 | 58 | Qualification for 2013 CAF Champions League |
| 2 | Moroka Swallows | 30 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 56 | |
| 3 | SuperSport United | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 39 | 23 | +16 | 54 | Qualification for 2013 CAF Confederation Cup |
| 4 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 52 | |
| 5 | Kaizer Chiefs | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 50 | |
| 6 | Free State Stars | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 31 | +7 | 48 | |
| 7 | AmaZulu | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 41 | |
| 8 | Bloemfontein Celtic | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 41 | |
| 9 | Ajax Cape Town | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 42 | 49 | −7 | 40 | |
| 10 | Platinum Stars | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 36 | |
| 11 | Maritzburg United | 30 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 26 | 38 | −12 | 34 | |
| 12 | Bidvest Wits | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 38 | −7 | 33 | |
| 13 | Golden Arrows | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 32 | |
| 14 | Black Leopards | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 36 | 58 | −22 | 29 | |
| 15 | Santos (R) | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 34 | 48 | −14 | 27 | PSL Playoff Tournament |
| 16 | Jomo Cosmos (R) | 30 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 24 | 46 | −22 | 19 | Relegation to National First Division |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
- Winner of the 2012 Nedbank Cup will qualify for the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup.
Results edit
Statistics edit
Top goalscorersAs of May 19, 2012
Last updated: 19 May 2012
Source: Premier Soccer League
Awards edit
The 2011–12 PSL Awards ceremony was held on 27 May 2012.
PSL Footballer of the Year edit
The PSL Footballer of the Year was awarded to Siyabonga Nomvethe.[40]
Palesa ShabalalaThe PSL Player of the Season was also awarded to Siyabonga Nomvethe.[40]
PSL Players' Player of the Season edit
The PSL Players' Player of the Season was also awarded to Siyabonga Nomvethe.[40]
PSL Red Hot Young Player of the Season edit
The PSL Red Hot Young Player of the Season was awarded to Ronwen Williams.[40]
PSL Coach of the Season edit
The PSL Coach of the Season was awarded to Gordon Igesund.[40]
PSL Top Goalscorer edit
The PSL Top Goalscorer award went to Siyabonga Nomvethe.[40]
PSL Goalkeeper of the Season edit
The PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award went to Wayne Sandilands.[40]
PSL Absa-lutely Awesome Goal of the Season edit
The PSL Absa-lutely Awesome Goal of the Season award went to Benni McCarthy.[40]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "SuperSport crush Maritzburg 7–0". PSL. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- ^ "Bhele, Maleka strike twice to sink Leopards". PSL. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ "AmaZulu add more woes to Leopards". PSL. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ "Sundowns back on the winning trail". PSL. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Sundowns put Santos to the sword". PSL. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ "Celtic sink Golden Arrows". PSL. 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ "Swallows up to 2nd". Kick Off. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Pirates win seven goal thriller". PSL. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Manyama steals it for Ajax". PSL. 22 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ "Five-star Sundowns thump Santos". Kick Off. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ "SuperSport in 7-goal rout". Kick Off. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- ^ "SA Premiership 2011–2012 Season Attendance Table". football365.com. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "2010–11 Fixtures released". PSL.com. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "ABSA Premiership fixture list". PSL.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Cosmos beat Bay United 5–4". SABCNews. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Leopards return to the top-flight". Kickoff.com. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Benni shines as Bucs conquer the Absa Premiership". PSL. 19 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Heartbreak as Cosmos is relegated to the NFD". PSL. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ^ "Nooij: only ourselves to blame for predicament". PSL. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Leopards secure PSL status". PSL. 19 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Santos relegated from PSL". Sport24.com. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ^ "PSL and SuperSport continue partnership". PSL.com. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Foppe de Haan to leave Ajax". Eyewitness News. 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Stekelenburg the first 'true' Ajax coach". iol.co.za/capeargus. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Krol wants to leave Bucs with Cup success". Kickoff.com. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Leal replaces Krol at Pirates". iol.co.za. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "AmaZulu sack Mngqithi". Kickoff.com. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Palmgren named new AmaZulu coach". Supersport. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Chidzambwa "redeployed" as Leopards hire new coach". The Zimbabwean. 28 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "Heric announced as Leopards coach". 26 October 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "Crowie to bring new energy to The People's Team". Santos. 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Solomons not fired, but not coaching". Kickoff.com. 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Platinum Stars suspend Owen da Gama". Kickoff.com. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "Leal was unaware of suspension". Kickoff.com. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Bucs suspend Leal". Kickoff. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "VV and Chiefs part ways!". Kickoff.com. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Nooij to coach Santos". Kickoff. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Nooij: I'm not just here for 5 matches". Kickoff.com. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Heric Wishes Leopards Well". Soccer Laduma. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kickoff.com (27 May 2012). "All the PSL Award winners". kickoff.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012.