National Professional Soccer League (South Africa)

NPSL First Division
Founded1971
Folded1995
CountrySouth Africa
Most championshipsKaizer Chiefs (5 times)

The National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) was a South African association football league that existed between 1971 and 1995. During those years, the league, however, had three completely different organisations.

History

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1971–1977

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In 1971–1977, due to the country's apartheid policies, the league was only contested by teams made up of black players.

Year Winner Runner-up Third-place
NPSL Castle League (for blacks)
1971 Orlando Pirates Kaizer Chiefs Moroka Swallows Big XV
1972 AmaZulu
1973 Orlando Pirates
1974 Kaizer Chiefs Moroka Swallows Ltd. Zulu Royals
1975 Orlando Pirates
1976 Orlando Pirates Kaizer Chiefs Moroka Swallows Ltd.
1977 Kaizer Chiefs

1978–1984

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In 1978, the NPSL merged with the National Football League (NFL), which previously had been organised only for White South African players in 1959–1977. The two leagues together formed a new topflight multi-racial football league in 1978–1984 (also named NPSL), where teams were still designated as white or black, but the white teams were allowed to field a maximum of three black players.

Year Winner Runner-up Third-place
NPSL Castle League
1978 Lusitano Wits University Arcadia
1979 Kaizer Chiefs Arcadia Highlands Park
1980 Highlands Park Kaizer Chiefs Wits University
1981 Kaizer Chiefs Highlands Park Arcadia
1982 Durban City Wits University Kaizer Chiefs
1983 Durban City Arcadia Kaizer Chiefs
1984 Kaizer Chiefs Moroka Swallows Durban City

In January 1985, Kaizer Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung lodged a complaint that it was unfair that 10% of revenue from a testimonial match for Ace Ntsoelengoe and Jomo Sono was expected to go to various administrative bodies including SANFA. Several clubs question the conflicts of interest for George Thabe to be the president of the NPLS and SANFA at the same time. Fifteen of the sixteen clubs petitioned for Thabe to resign as NPSL chairman and a proposal for constitution changes that remove SANFA’s veto rights over NPSL. On 29 January, Thabe told those clubs who wanted to him resign should leave the NPSL.

In February 1985, it was announced that the clubs wanting to break away had arranged sponsorship with South African Breweries, the existing sponsor of NPSL, and a newly created National Soccer League (NSL) would begin on 23 February in accordance with anti-apartheid principles.

1985–1995

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The remaining part of NPSL continued to co-exist as an independent league (South Africa had two top division Leagues which were NPSL and NSL), until it folded in December 1995. When NPSL folded, the few remaining teams continued to play the next 1996–97 season in the “2nd Division of NSL”, which at that point of time became renamed to the National First Division.[1]

Year Winner Runner-up Third-place
NPSL[2]
1985 Umtata Bush Bucks
1986 Vaal Professionals
1987 Vaal Professionals
1988 Vaal Professionals
1989 Real Sweepers
1990 De Beers
1991 Oriental Spurs
1992 Arcadia Shepherds
1993 unknown
1994 unknown
1995 Witbank All Stars

Most titles

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Team Titles Years
Kaizer Chiefs
5
1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984
Orlando Pirates
4
1971, 1973, 1975, 1976
Vaal Professionals
3
1986, 1987, 1988
Durban City
2
1982, 1983
AmaZulu
1
1972
Lusitano
1
1978
Highlands Park
1
1980
Bush Bucks
1
1985
De Beers
1
1990
Oriental Spurs
1
1991
Arcadia Shepherds
1
1992
Witbank All Stars
1
1995

References

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  1. ^ "South African National Championships". RSSSF. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  2. ^ Raath, Peter (2002). Soccer through the years, 1862–2002. [Cape Town]. ISBN 9780620298056.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)