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8 - This week's newsletter features a stat for each
#dstvprem
team that has qualified for the Top8, and some final day permutations for the five teams that can still end the season as Number 8. Newsletter.
🔗:
5 -
@Masandawana
are the fifth side to be at the top of the
#AbsaPrem
table this season:
Kaizer Chiefs - 379 days on top.
Wits - 12 days.
Baroka - 5 days.
Polokane - 3 days.
Sundowns - 1 day.
Patience.
#AbsaPremFinale
3 - Ronwen Williams is only the second Bafana Bafana goalkeeper to keep three clean sheets at a single AFCON tournament, after Andre Arendse (4 in 1996). Destiny?
#AFCON2023
105 - The goal v Bumamuru today was Peter Shalulile's 105th goal for a PSL top-flight club, surpassing Tico Tico Bucuane (104) to become the highest foreign goal scorer in PSL top-flight history. Golden.
#cafcl
1 - 2022/23 Sundowns are the first team in PSL history to beat both Orlando Pirates & Kaizer Chiefs home & away in the same season. Dominance.
#DSTVPrem
5 - No African team has reached the AFCON final and returned without lifting the trophy on more occasions than Nigeria (5 times). Bridesmaids.
#AFCON2023
3 - Pitso Mosimane was a
@Masandawana
player in 1997/98 when they won the first of three successive titles.
Pitso Mosimane is the
@Masandawana
coach in 2019/20 when they won the last of three successive titles.
Cycle.
#AbsaPremFinale
📸
@BackpagePix
14 - Bafana Bafana have completed 14 build-ups at
#AFCON2023
(open-play sequences containing 10 or more passes) - more than any other side. In fact, no other side has more than 10. DNA.
2 - Themba Zwane is the sixth player to net twice in an AFCON game for Bafana Bafana, but only the second to secure a brace in the first half of a game (after Benni McCarthy's four goals in 1998, also v Namibia). Dentists.
#AFCON2023
18 - Ronwen Williams has now kept 18 clean sheets for Sundowns in the
#dstvprem
this season, a new record for a goalkeeper in a single PSL campaign. Congratulations.
@ronwen30
20 - Vuyo Mere made his PSL debut 20 years ago this week (18 August 2001 v Black Leopards) and is now appearing in his 21st different PSL season. Longevity.
#DSTVPrem
10 - Mamelodi Sundowns have won all 10 of their games in the
#dstvprem
this season, becoming the first side ever to win 10 straight games from the start of a PSL top-flight campaign. Perfect.
30 - Aubrey Modiba recovered possession of the ball 30 times for Bafana Bafana in their three matches, the most ball recoveries by any player in the group stages at
#AFCON2023
📷. Graft.
7 - Sundowns have won all seven matches in all competitions in January 2023, the most wins by a team in in a single month in PSL history. Resolutions.
#DSTVPrem
Review➡️:
5 - Ronwen Williams is the first Bafana Bafana goalkeeper to keep five clean sheets at a single AFCON tournament, eclipsing Andre Arendse’s four in 1996. Presence.
#AFCON2023
4 - Yet, only four of Osimhen’s shots were on target as many as our 3rd-best shooter (Percy Tau). Two of our players - Evidence Makgopa (5) & Teboho Mokoena (7) outshine him. Plus, no player at
#AFCON2023
has more shots on target than Mokoena (7). Precision.
1️⃣9️⃣ - That does not scare us, my friend. Have you heard of Victor Osimhen - the reigning African Footballer of the Year? He has taken more shots (19) than any other player at AFCON, and is the tournament leader for xG (3.1). Danger. ⚡️
#NGARSA
#AFCON2023
32 - Mamelodi Sundowns have tonight set a new outright record for the longest run without defeat in PSL history, going 32
#dstvprem
matches unbeaten (W26 D6 since September 2022). Unprecedented.
3 - Lyle Foster has scored his third goal of the season. No South African player has ever scored more in their first five English Premier League appearances. Entrance.
12 - Aubrey Modiba recovered possession of the ball 12 times for Bafana Bafana against Mali on MD1, the most ball recoveries by any player in the first round of games at
#AFCON2023
. Postman.
16y7m9d - Aged 16 years 7 months 9 days, Siyabonga Mabena is the youngest player to score a league goal for Sundowns in PSL history, beating Siyanda Xulu's record for the club by 478 days (set in Nov 2009). Prospect.
#dstvprem
11 - Sundowns have won their 11th consecutive league game, only the third time in PSL history that a top-flight team has won 11 in a row:
🔘 2006/07 Sundowns
🔘 2022/23 Sundowns
🔘 2023/24 Sundowns
Tradition.
#dstvprem
0 - Thomas Sweswe is the only player to complete 90 minutes without touching the ball, but end up as Man of the Match, doing this on 29 February 2011. Ghost.
2 - Zakhele Lepasa is only the second player in PSL history to score a hat-trick in a Top8 tie, after Jimmy Kauleza in 2002 v Moroka Swallows, who was also playing for Orlando Pirates. Hot.
#MTN8
2 - Bafana Bafana have scored more build-up goals than any other side at
#AFCON2023
(2) - defined as goals coming from open-play sequences that contain ten or more passes. Rhythm.
8 - Zakhele Lepasa (10 goals in 8 appearances) is the fastest Orlando Pirates player to score 10 goals in a season since Tendai Ndoro (10 in 12 during 2016/17). However, Lepasa is the faster Pirates player to reach the mark in PSL history. Clinical.
#MTN8
4 - Ronwen Williams is only the second Bafana Bafana goalkeeper to keep four clean sheets at a single AFCON tournament, after Andre Arendse (4 in 1996). However, he is the first ever to keep four clean sheets in four consecutive games. Protector.
#AFCON2023
98 - The midweek brace v Royal AM took Peter Shalulile to 98 top-flight goals (27 at Highlands Park plus 71 at Sundowns, all comps) - and he's now placed 7th for all-time PSL top scorers. Finisher.
5 - No PSL-era team has reached the Top8 final and returned without lifting the trophy as often as Mamelodi Sundowns (5 times). Bridesmaids.
#MTN8Final
110 - Peter Shalulile has scored his 110th goal for a top-flight club (27 at Highlands Park, 83 at Sundowns all comps). He goes joint-second with Daniel Mudau & Mabhudi Khanyeza for goals in the PSL era, behind only Siya Nomvethe. Superstar.
#dstvprem
3 - Orlando Pirates have now retained the Top8 title for a third time (2000, 2011 & 2023). No team has retained the Top8 title on more occasions. Heritage.
#MTN8Final
4 - Andile Jali has been involved in all four domestic trebles completed by PSL sides (Orlando Pirates 2010/11, 2011/12 & Sundowns 2019/20, 2021/22). Starring.
#NedbankCupFinal
🎯
@Abutii_Broadway
20 - Peter Shalulile is the first Sundowns player to score 20+ goals in all competitions in successive seasons since Daniel Mudau (98/99 - 00/01). Consistency.
#CAFCL
10" - Peter Shalulile's goal after 10 seconds is the fastest in MTN8 history, surpassing Daine Klate's goal after 34 seconds for Wits v Sundowns in the 2016 final. Flash.
#MTN8
12 - Eric Tinkler has now won 12 matches against Kaizer Chiefs in his coaching career, more than he has against any other PSL opponent. Habit.
#DSTVPrem
2 - Tomorrow marks only the second time in PSL history that Sundowns face Kaizer Chiefs in a Cup game on the same day the Springboks play Ireland, after the 1998 Rothmans Cup final (28 Nov 98). Trivia.
50 - Sundowns have become the fastest team ever to reach 50 points in a PSL top-flight season, doing so in just 20 games and breaking the record previously held by Kaizer Chiefs (21 games). Soaring.
Dear Bafo
@OptaJabu
🤗🤗🤗💙💙
Konje it's HOW MANY DAYS since Kaizer Chiefs Last WON a Trophy 🏆
#OptaJabuStats
I'll listen on Radio
Thank You inadvance Bafo
@OptaJabu
37 - Mamelodi Sundowns have won their 37th game in 2023 (all comps). Only once before (38 wins in 1999) have they won more games in one calendar year. Unwavering.
#CAFCL
1 - August 2019: Percy Tau scored his 1st goal for
@ClubBrugge
on his debut.
August 2020: Percy Tau has scored his first goal for
@rscanderlecht
on his debut.
October 2021: Percy Tau has scores his first goal for
@AlAhlyEnglish
on his debut.
Tradition.
2001 - This is the second time in PSL history (and the first since April 2001) that Orlando Pirates have scored 4+ goals in back-to-back competitive games. Unlocked.
9 - Sundowns have won their ninth
#dstvprem
game of the season (out of nine), setting a new record run for consecutive wins by a top-flight side from the start of a PSL season. Surge.
50 - Peter Shalulile has become the fastest player to reach 50 goals for Sundowns in the PSL era, doing so in just 80 games and breaking the record previously held by Raphael Chukwu (84 games). Magic.
#DSTVPrem
30 - Last night was Rulani Mokwena's 30th league game as Sundowns head coach (P30 W24 D6 L0).
He's the first coach in PSL history to lead a team over a 30-game period without defeat, and only the second to win 78/90 points across 30 games (1999 Ted Dumitru - P30 W25 D3 L2). Ace.
6 - Jose Riveiro has won six consecutive
#dstvprem
games, equalling Roy Barreto (2002), Ruud Krol (2011) & Josef Zinnbauer (2020) for the longest winning league streak for Orlando Pirates in the PSL. Cooking.
1,053 - Elvis Chipezeze spent 1,053 minutes laying on the floor during
#dstvprem
games at Baroka (13 mins per game), the only player with more than 1,000 floor minutes for a single top-flight club in PSL history. Sleepaholic.
16 - Kaizer Chiefs have now lost 16 games across all competitions since the start of 2023, a new record for the club in a single calendar year. Horribilis.
#dstvprem
1 - Arthur Zwane featured as a player in the first match a PSL side played away in Morocco (Pirates v Raja Casablanca in September 1997). 24 years later, he featured as a coach in the first match a PSL side won away in Morocco (Chiefs v Wydad in June 2021). Trivia.
#TotalCAFCL
1 - Arthur Zwane is the first Kaizer Chiefs coach to win his first
#SowetoDerby
since Ernst Middendorp in 2005/06. Zwane played for Chiefs in that game, which was also on the 29th of October. Suited.
#DSTVPrem
17 - 17 points from 8 games is Golden Arrows' best start to a season in 15 years, since collecting 18 points from eight in 2008/09. Impressing.
#dstvprem
11 - That's interesting
@OptaNGR
, maybe that’s because you enjoyed a head start. Did you know that since making our tournament debut in 1996, Bafana Bafana (11) have been to more AFCON tournaments than Nigeria (10)? Regulars.
#AFCON2023
#NGARSA
1️⃣5️⃣ - Nigeria are playing in their 15th semi-final at the Africa Cup of Nations, more than any other nation in the history of the competition. Game on
@OptaJabu
. Pedigree.
#NGARSA
#AFCON2023
104 - Bradley Grobler's two goals tonight were his 103rd and 104th for a PSL club, now level with Tico-Tico Bucuane as the 5th highest scorer in PSL history. Example.
#dstvprem
133 - Lucas Ribeiro's goal was the 133rd league goal scored in a match involving Sundowns and SuperSport, extending the
#tshwanederby
's record as the highest-scoring fixture in
@OfficialPSL
history. Entertainment.
7 - Peter Shalulile has scored seven goals versus Kaizer Chiefs (2 for Highlands Park, 5 for Sundowns) - more than he has versus any other PSL side. Bully.
#DSTVPrem
103 - The goal v Golden Arrows was Peter Shalulile's 103rd goal in the top-flight, bringing him level with Collins Mbesuma as the 5th-highest scorer in PSL history. Dependable.
#dstvprem
3 - Peter Shalulile has won the Golden Boot for a third season (also 2019/20 & 2021/22), becoming the first PSL player to win the award three times. Machine.
26 - Despite waiting until October for his first start, Monnapule Saleng (15G 11A) ended the season as the only top-flight player with double figures for both goals & assists in all competitions. Double-Double.
50 stats from the PSL season🔗:
17 - Ronwen Williams has equalled the PSL top-flight record for clean sheets in one season, set by Moeneeb Josephs (17 also in 2009/10). Wall.
#dstvprem
29 - Peter Shalulile's
#AFLFinal
opener was the 29th goal he's scored for Sundowns in Cup competitions, making him the club's outright top Cup scorer in PSL history. Occassion.
#AFL
42 - The goal v Al Ahly took Peter Shalulile to 42 goals for Sundowns since joining the club last season, overtaking Isaac Shai (41) to 8th place in all-time PSL-era goals for the club. Bounce.
#CAFCL
3.1 - Based on the quality of on-target shots he has faced, Ronwen Williams has prevented 3.1 goals at
#AFCON2023
- more than any other goalkeeper at the tournament. Wall.
5 - Mamelodi Sundowns can become the 4th team in PSL history to win their opening five games of a top-flight season (after 1996 Chiefs, 2002 Pirates & 2014 Chiefs). Indeed, Chiefs hold the record with eight straight wins at the start of the 2014/15 season. Memories.
#dstvprem
69 - 69 points from 27 games is a new record at this stage of a PSL season. Indeed, no team has ever won more than 65 points after 27 games. Exceptional.
#dstvprem
100 - Peter Shalulile’s second goal v CR Belouizdad took him to 100 top-flight goals for PSL clubs (27 at Highlands Park plus 73 at Sundowns, all comps), becoming the 7th player to reach 100 goals in PSL history. Milestone.
#CAFCL
15 - Sundowns have now beaten all the opposing teams in the
#DSTVPrem
at least once this season, equalling a PSL 100% record set by Kaizer Chiefs in 2013/14 & 2014/15. Bullies.
21y 244d - Aged 21 years and 244 days, Cassius Mailula became the youngest Sundowns player ever to score 10+ goals across all competitions in a single PSL season. Gifted.
#CAFCL
100 - In their 100th match in charge at Sundowns this past weekend, Mngqithi & Mokwena earned their 63rd win – the best win rate of any Sundowns coach in their first 100 games (all comps, PSL era). Century.
#MTN8
1.7 - Orlando Pirates have scored 62 goals this season across 36 games at an average of 1.7 per game; the last time an Orlando Pirates side enjoyed a higher goals per game rate in a PSL season was in 2000/01 (1.8 gpg under Gordon Igesund). Abundance.
#NedbankCup
72 - Sundowns have earned 72 points this season (P28 W22 D6 L0), a new PSL record for a 30-game top-flight season (previously 71). Imperious.
#dstvprem
13 - Orlando Pirates are now unbeaten in all 13 Cup games under Jose Riveiro (W11 D2), the joint-longest a Pirates coach has gone unbeaten in Cups at the start of their tenure (Zinnbauer also 13). Maestro.
#MTN8
7 - Sundowns have won the
@OfficialPSL
title with seven games still left to play, the earliest title victory in terms of remaining matches in PSL history. Command.
#DSTVPrem
18y 6m 20d - Aged 18 years 6 months and 20 days, Mduduzi Shabalala is the 3rd youngest player to score a league goal for Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL, behind only Wiseman Meyiwa (17y 8m 18d) & Mandla Masango (18y 0m 28d). Talent
#DSTVPrem
162 - Sundowns players have received 162 hugs during games since Rulani Mokwena became sole head coach in October 2022, more than any other side have received from their coach in that time. Affection.
#dstvprem