The 30th season since domestic football became the PSL will come with the Big Three now sitting as the only ever-present clubs to have never changed names since the first ball was kicked in August 1996.
Just a few years after South Africa was readmitted to FIFA, domestic football was rebranded and restructured into the PSL which now runs from August-May instead of the full calendar year like was the case before.
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Manning Rangers were champions in that inaugural PSL season (1996/97) which featured Witbank Aces, Michau Warriors (initially started as Crystal Brains), Real Rovers, Vaal Professionals, and Qwaqwa Stars amongst others.
Kaizer Chiefs (finished second), Orlando Pirates (third), and Mamelodi Sundowns (sixth) were all involved.
Pretoria City, who were promoted as the 1995 inland champions, played their first season in the top league before they were renamed SuperSport United in 1997.
Fast forward to 2025, SuperSport have now been sold and renamed Siwelele FC with new owners taking over.
This then leaves Chiefs, Pirates, and Sundowns as the three clubs still using their original names.
The two Soweto giants have won the league four times each while Sundowns are now up to 15.
SuperSport have been champions thrice.
The three remaining titles were won by Rangers, Santos, and Bidvest Wits who are all no longer playing professional football.
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Through the years there have been clubs as Vasco da Gama, Mother City, Seven Stars, Bay United, Benoni Premier United, Tembisa Classic, African Wanderers, Dynamos, Hellenic, Bish Bucks, and Moroka Swallows amongst those that have since disappeared from the professional game.
Chiefs, Pirates, and Sundowns have also been the three ever present clubs since the National Soccer League was established in 1985 – the year in which Durban Bush Bucks won the league.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
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