2017–18 South African Premiership

The 2017–18 South African Premiership season (known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd season of the Premiership since its conception in 1996.

Premiership

Season	2017–18
Champions	Mamelodi Sundowns (8th title)
Relegated	Ajax Cape Town Platinum Stars
Champions League	Mamelodi Sundowns Orlando Pirates
Confederation Cup	Kaizer Chiefs Free State Stars
Matches played	240
Goals scored	489 (2.04 per match)
Top goalscorer	Rodney Ramagalela Percy Tau (11 goals)
Biggest home win	Orlando Pirates 4-0 Bidvest Wits (25 April 2018)
Highest scoring	Chippa United 2-4 Orlando Pirates (25 February 2018)
← 2016–17 2018–19 → All statistics correct as of 20 March 2018.

Bidvest Wits were the defending champions, having won the previous 2016–17 South African Premier Division season. The season featured 15 teams from the 2016–17 season and one new team from the 2016–17 National First Division: AmaZulu replaced relegated Highlands Park. AmaZulu, although finishing only fifth in the National First Division (NFD) purchased winner's Thanda Royal Zulu's league status upon completion of the NFD season.^[1][2][3]

Teams

Stadiums and locations

Ajax

AmaZulu

Wits

Celtic

Chippa

F.S. Stars

G. Arrows

Baroka

Chiefs

Sundowns
SuperSport

Maritzburg

Cape Town

Pirates

Platinum

Polokwane

Location of teams in the 2017–18 Premiership.

Personnel and kits

League table

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Mamelodi Sundowns (C)	30	18	6	6	49	24	+25	60	2018–19 CAF Champions League
2	Orlando Pirates	30	15	10	5	41	26	+15	55
3	Kaizer Chiefs	30	12	12	6	27	22	+5	48	2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup
4	Maritzburg United	30	11	11	8	36	23	+13	44
5	Cape Town City	30	11	7	12	26	27	−1	40
6	Free State Stars[a]	30	10	10	10	29	31	−2	40	2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup
7	SuperSport United	30	9	12	9	28	28	0	39
8	Golden Arrows	30	8	14	8	36	34	+2	38
9	AmaZulu	30	9	11	10	30	35	−5	38
10	Chippa United	30	7	16	7	27	26	+1	37
11	Bloemfontein Celtic	30	8	13	9	25	32	−7	37
12	Polokwane City	30	7	15	8	33	33	0	36
13	Bidvest Wits	30	9	9	12	27	36	−9	36
14	Baroka FC	30	7	13	10	32	38	−6	34
15	Platinum Stars	30	6	9	15	23	35	−12	27	Playoff Tournament
16	Ajax Cape Town[b] (R)	30	6	6	18	21	40	−19	24	2018–19 National First Division

Updated to match(es) played on 13 May 2018. Source: http://www.psl.co.za/matchcentre?type=Log
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored;
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Free State Stars qualify for CAF Confederation Cup as winners of the 2017-18 Nedbank Cup.^[4]
2. Ajax Cape Town had three results awarded as 3-0 victories to the opposition. They lost seven points due to fielding an ineligible player.^[5]

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 13 April 2018

Rank	Player	Club	Goals[6]
1	Rodney Ramagalela	Polokwane City	11
	Percy Tau	Mamelodi Sundowns
3	Gift Motupa	Baroka	9
4	Khama Billiat	Mamelodi Sundowns	8
	Lerato Lamola	Lamontville Golden Arrows
	Aubrey Modiba	SuperSport United
	Evans Rusike	Supersport United
8	Mhlengi Cele	AmaZulu	7
	Knox Mutizwa	Lamontville Golden Arrows
10	Andrea Fileccia	Maritzburg United	6
	Sepana Letsoalo	Bloemfontein Celtic
	Siphelele Magubane	Lamontville Golden Arrows
	Lehlohonolo Majoro	Bidvest Wits
	Walter Musona	Polokwane City
	Sibusiso Vilakazi	Mamelodi Sundowns
	Themba Zwane	Mamelodi Sundowns

Attendances

#	Football club	Average attendance[7]
1	Kaizer Chiefs	18,777
2	Orlando Pirates	11,568
3	Bloemfontein Celtic	10,300
4	Mamelodi Sundowns	8,067
5	Chippa United	7,815
6	Maritzburg United	7,640
7	Cape Town City	6,610
8	Ajax Cape Town	6,035
9	AmaZulu FC	5,324
10	Polokwane City FC	4,766
11	Baroka	4,625
12	SuperSport United	4,513
13	Free State Stars	3,620
14	Platinum Stars	2,560
15	Bidvest Wits	2,438
16	Golden Arrows	2,361