Opta Jabu Newsletter #10: Top8 permutations
A stat for each teams that has made the Top8, and the permutations for Number 8.
At the halfway stage of the season, Sundowns (39 points) had effectively qualified for Top 8. We know the rest - 53 games unbeaten overall, still unbeaten this season, champions for a 7th consecutive season, points, goal, goal difference and point gap records in sight. Not much of a story here - Sundowns are in the Top8. Here’s a Top8 stat on the rest.
Other Teams guaranteed Top 8:
Stellenbosch
Highest possible finish: 2nd
Lowest possible finish: 3rd
Stellenbosch are in the Top 8 for the third consecutive season. After finishing 10th and 14th in their first two top-flight campaigns, the Maroons have followed that up with 4th and 6th place finishes. Even if they end up in third, that would be a remarkable achievement.
50 - Stellenbosch have won 50 points in the league this season, becoming only the seventh different club since their 2019 promotion to reach the landmark in a campaign. Overall, they are the 14th club to reach 50+ points in the 30-game era
17 times - Sundowns
14 - Orlando Pirates
13 - Kaizer Chiefs
9 - Supersport Utd
8 - Bidvest Wits
3 - Moroka Swallows, Ajax Cape Town
2 - Platinum Stars
1 - Golden Arrows, Bloem Celtic, Cape Town City, AmaZulu, Stellenbosch
Orlando Pirates
Highest possible finish: 2nd
Lowest possible finish: 3rd
The Buccaneers have endured mixed results at the end of season. Back-to-back losses in the middle of a run-in can have a deflating effect on the team, but fortunately, Stellies (who they are chasing for 2nd) have also lost back-to-back games as well. Mathematically, Top 8 was sealed a month ago., with Pirates winning their 40th point in mid-April.
24 - No PSL-era team has qualified for the Top8 on more occasions than Orlando Pirates (24, level with SuperSport United).
TS Galaxy
Highest possible finish: 4th
Lowest possible finish: 7th
An impressive season for The Rockets, who have won 44 points this season, already their best-ever total in the top flight. Since losing the Carling Cup final in December, they have won 29 points from 16 games. Only Sundowns (40) have more in that time.
8 - TS Galaxy are guaranteed to finish seventh or higher for the first time in the top flight. They are the 33rd different team to qualify for the Top 8 in the PSL era.
SuperSport United
Highest possible finish: 4th
Lowest possible finish: 7th
They have arrested the slide after a difficult start to 2024. A league table from January to April would have them 2nd from the bottom. A league table for May alone would have them 2nd from top. It’s their recent form that has got them a Top8 place for yet another year.
24 - SuperSport United are guaranteed a Top 8 finish for the 24th consecutive season. No team has been on a longer run of consecutive Top8 qualifications without missing an edition than Matsatsantsa (24).
Sekhukhune
Highest possible finish: 4th
Lowest possible finish: 7th
One win in nine games since the start of April is a different run of form from what Sekhukhune were engaged in only two months ago. They were rewarded for a perfect run as Coach Seema & Linda Mntambo picked up the DSTV Premiership monthly awards for February/March 2024. Truth is, it has been a month since their top8 spot was booked.
42 - 42 points is already their best return in the top-flight, exceeding the 40 from last season.
Cape Town City
Highest possible finish: 4th
Lowest possible finish: 7th
Two days ago, the Cape Town City Twitter account shared that “In the 3-1 victory over Richards Bay, there were 8️⃣ academy graduates in the matchday squad.” And 8 is the magic number for City in this conversation. This is City’s eighth season in the top flight, and they have qualified for the Top 8 in all eight seasons since their (re)formation in 2016.
8 - In the PSL era, only Orlando Pirates (17 in a row from 2000 - 2016) and SuperSport (24 in a row until now) have gone on a longer run of consecutive Top8 qualifications from their first qualification.
The final spot:
The 8th spot for next season’s competition is still up for grabs. Going into the final day, five teams are still in contention, and the permutations are simple (if you win):
Chiefs: win by a margin of 1 more than AmaZulu, 4 more than Polokwane City
AmaZulu: win by a margin of 2 more than Chiefs, 3 more than Polokwane City
Polokwane City: win by a margin of 5 more than Chiefs, 3 more than AmaZulu
Arrows: win and hope all three of Chiefs, AmaZulu, Polokwane don’t win
Chippa: win and hope all four of Chiefs, AmaZulu, Polokwane, Arrows don’t win
Chiefs, AmaZulu & Polokwane can still make it if they lose the final game, but the permutations would get a bit more complex for all.
