Apologies, it’s been a minute, reader (Let’s blame the (multiple) long weekends). From Pirates winning the first of two Soweto derbies, to Sundowns inching ever closer to another title. Add Sundowns’ scoring records and Stellenbosch winning three in a row (a rare occurrence in the PSL), here are 10 stats from the weekend action.
On Jose Riveiro Winning 5 derbies
5 - Jose Riveiro is the first Orlando Pirates coach in PSL history to win five Soweto derby matches against Kaizer Chiefs (all comps), and the first to do so consecutively.
Most derbies won by a Pirates or Chiefs coach (PSL era only):
5 - Baxter Stuart (5th win came in 11th derby)
5 - Riveiro Jose* (5th win came in 7th derby)
4 - Middendorp Ernst (4th win came in 8th derby)
On Pirates reaching 30 wins
The 2-1 win over Chiefs was Pirates’ 30th win of the season in all competitions (16 in the league, 8 in CAF, 3 each in the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup), a new record for most wins by the Buccaneers in a single PSL season.
Most wins for Pirates in a single season:
30 - 2024/25 (Played 46)
29 - 2014/15 (P57)*
27 - 2010/11 (P43)
*Back in 2014/15, the CAF & PSL calendars were not in sync. CAF ran Jan-December, PSL ran August-May, so two CAF games in the same edition would be played in two different PSL seasons. We counted all games from the 2015 CAF in the 2014/15 season.
On Sundowns goals
54 - Sundowns have 54 goals from 24 league games this season, and are the first team in PSL history to get more than 50 after 24 games of a season.*
Most goals by a team in a 30-game PSL season:
56 - Sundowns 2021/22
55 - Sundowns 2015/16, Kaizer Chiefs 2004/5
54 - Sundowns 2004/5, SuperSport Utd 2002/3, Sundowns 2024/25*
*Yeah, the Royal AM stuff (Downs have technically equalled the PSL 30-game record, including their two Royal AM goals). To count the goals or not to count them is the question - we’re leaning towards counting them, but will reach consensus in the off-season.
On Sundowns’ home record (Richards Bay recap)
100% - Sundowns have a 100% home record this season (P11 W11 D0 L0), and are one home win away from equalling the 30-game PSL record for number of wins. No team has ever won 100% of their home games in a season.
Most home wins in a PSL season:
12 - 2010/11 Sundowns
12 - 2015/16 Sundowns
12 - 2016/17 Wits
12 - 2022/23 Sundowns
11 - 2024/25 Sundowns* and nine other teams.
On Kaizer Chiefs’ struggles
12 - This was Kaizer Chiefs' 12th league defeat of the season - they've never lost more in a single campaign in PSL history.
Most league defeats for Chiefs in a season:
12 - 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25*
10 - 2006/7, 2008/9, 2020/21
Other stats…
20 - Sundowns have won 20+ league games for a third consecutive season. In the first 20 PSL seasons involving 16 teams, this feat had only been achieved three times (Sundowns twice & Kaizer Chiefs once).
20 - Iqraam Rayners (11 goals & 9 assists) is only the 2nd player to reach 20 goal involvements in the league this season, after his teammate Lucas Ribeiro.
3 - Stellies have won 3 consecutive league games for the first time this season, joining Sundowns (10), Pirates (7) and Magesi (4) as teams to put together runs of 3+ wins.
1+1 - Lindokuhle Zikhali scored for Richards Bay against TS Galaxy before receiving a red card - the last player to get sent off after scoring in a league game was also named Lindokuhle (Mtshali for Swallows v Royal AM in May last year).
4 - Relebohile Mofokeng is the 4th youngest player to score a league goal in the Soweto Derby, after Tso Vilakazi, Lesley Manyathela and Gift Leremi.
