2025: Year in review | Who flew and who faltered in the PSL this year

As 2025 draws to a close, the Premiership table reflects a season of highs, lows, and surprises. From clubs battling relegation to those chasing silverware, the year has delivered drama, standout performances, and lessons for the months ahead.

Here, we take a club-by-club look at how each side performed in this year, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and what fans can expect as the league resumes in 2026.

16 Chippa United

Chippa’s reputation for living on the edge has resurfaced once again, with the Chilli Boys rooted to the bottom of the table. They are one of three teams to have reached the halfway mark of the season and find themselves paying the price for ongoing instability.

Vusumuzi Vilakazi is the latest man tasked with guiding them to safety, becoming the fifth coach appointed this season. While three draws in their last four matches have offered a flicker of hope, the numbers remain worrying, with just one win and eight defeats so far.

An away clash against Orbit College on the restart presents an opportunity to begin changing that narrative.

Earlier this year, they arguably performed above expectations by finishing 11th in the 2024/25 season.

15 Magesi FC

An erratic run of results has dragged Magesi into a relegation battle, a scenario all too familiar after their struggles last season, when the finished 13th, avoiding the drop by four points. Dikwena tsa Meetse are currently on a four-match winless run, with wastefulness in front of goal proving costly.

Defensively, they have also struggled, conceding 19 goals in 14 matches to record the league’s third-worst defensive record. A clash against fellow strugglers Stellenbosch FC on the restart offers a chance to change momentum.

Coach John Maduka insists performances have not been as poor as results suggest and remains hopeful his side can turn things around in the second half of the campaign.

14 Stellenbosch FC

The current picture in the Winelands is far removed from the expectations that surrounded Stellies at the start of the season. Sitting within touching distance of the relegation zone, Steve Barker and his side are enduring a difficult campaign and will need resilience to steer themselves out of danger. It stands in stark contrast to their Top 3 finish in 2024/25.

Their recent, spirited 2–1 comeback win over Orbit College was seen as a possible turning point, but a 2–1 defeat to Polokwane City to close out the year, has underlined the inconsistency that has plagued them.

With only three wins so far, the season is far from over. A tough away fixture against Sekhukhune United awaits, though confidence may be drawn from their recent 3–1 aggregate victory over the Limpopo outfit.

13 Orbit College

In their debut season in the top flight, Orbit College have exceeded expectations with a number of encouraging performances. They head into the second half of the campaign sitting 13th on the log with 13 points, carrying a sense of optimism despite their inexperience at this level.

However, they go into the break on the back of three consecutive defeats, leaving them in a precarious position. Their restart will be anything but gentle, with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns awaiting them on their return.

12 Marumo Galants

Galants finished 12th after ending 2025 with a 1–1 home draw against Magesi, enjoying a slight upturn towards in fortunes at the end of 2025.

Their last five games ended with two draws after consecutive defeats and a win. Gallants return to action in late January with a home midweek game against Chiefs. In the previosu season they finished a sold, if not spectacular 10th.

11 Siwelele

The newly renamed club – previously Super Sport United – ended 2025 on a high note after holding Premiership champions Sundowns to a 1–1 draw. Sundowns, after levelling scores, survived a scare when Siwelele pulled off great attacking opportunities in the dying minutes.

This outcome meant Siwelele recorded two wins and two draws over the last five games, finishing 2025 in 11th place. They start the new year with a visit to Richards Bay.

Nonetheless, Siwelele remain a reminder of the PSL's odd and controversial club-ownership policy. Having bought the elite status of United, they have already admitted to financial struggles earlier this year.

10 Golden Arrows

The festive season's jingle bells dimmed for Arrows after Fifa banned them from registering new players. The sanction stemmed from allegations that Arrows terminated Zimbabwean forward Knox Mutizwa's contract without due compensation.

Towards the end of the year, Arrows, under the guidance of coach Manqoba Mngqithi, experienced a disheartening downturn in form. In their final five league fixtures, the team secured just one win, culminating in four disappointing losses. The nadir of this streak came in their final Betway Premiership match of 2025 against local rivals AmaZulu, which they lost 1–0.

The defeat left them in 10th place on the league table, three points behind eighth-placed Durban City. Their first challenge of 2026 is against the prestigious Kaizer Chiefs in late January at the FNB Stadium.

9 Richards Bay

Richards Bay ended 2025 with a resounding 2–0 victory over AmaZulu in a KZN derby. This win marked a turnaround for the team, who had struggled through a four-match winless streak that included three frustrating draws. They ended the year in ninth place.

Coach Ronnie Gabriel is confident in his team's potential to finish in the top eight by season's end. The performance underscored a determined effort by his youthful squad, who have embraced Gabriel's vision of playing high-tempo, aggressive football.

As Richards Bay look ahead, they will launch their 2026 campaign against Siwelele in another home fixture, a prime opportunity for the team to build on their recent success and solidify their ambitions for the upcoming season.

8 TS Galaxy

Adnan Beganovic adopted a fearless yet effective approach in the first half of the season, unafraid to throw youngsters he believed in straight into the deep end.

Seluleko Mahlambi, Phuso Dithejane, Khulumani Ndamane, and Siphesihle Maduna played key roles in Galaxy’s strong showing, helping the team recover from a poor run of form following a transfer ban.

The work carried out by the quartet — and others — is evident, and the club must be prepared for interest and offers in the second half of the season.

7 Durban City

The return of City — formerly known as Maritzburg United — to the top flight was widely celebrated in KwaZulu-Natal early in the season, as they provided competition for other teams and restored more top-flight football to the province.

They appeared to have found a steady hand in veteran coach Gavin Hunt, who brought experience and stability. However, following disagreements with the club’s hierarchy, Hunt was abruptly shown the door.

His assistant, Pitso Dladla, took over the reins in their last match and secured a win. It will now be crucial for whoever leads the team next season to build on Hunt’s foundations and lessons.

6 Polokwane City

Rise and Shine continued to grow in leaps and bounds in the first half of the season, highlighting the tactical acumen of coach Phuti Mohafe, who has gone about his business quietly but effectively.

After overcoming a sluggish start — exacerbated by the departure of talisman Oswin Appollis and an injury to defender Thabang Matuludi — City rose from the ashes to collect invaluable points.

Mohafe engineered the turnaround by avoiding reliance on a single approach. His ability to tweak tactics according to match demands has earned him a reputation as a true technocrat.

5 AmaZulu

Coach Arthur Zwane transformed Usuthu into a lively outfit in the first half of the season. While they have no silverware to show for it, they can be proud of their progress.

Usuthu began the campaign with a refreshed approach, restructuring the team around youth blended with experienced players. So far, that balance has worked, helping them collect crucial points.

Home support also played a key role, as AmaZulu rarely lost at home. Under Zwane, a modern-minded coach, the team played an enterprising brand of football.

4 Kaizer Chiefs

Given their struggles in recent seasons, Chiefs’ top-four finish in the first half of the campaign is commendable. That said, they will be the first to admit they could have done better and finished in a higher position.

Sekhukhune and Chiefs were neck and neck after the opening round, with the latter ahead on goal difference. However, Amakhosi endured significant disruption, including the sacking of coach Nasreddine Nabi and his replacement by assistants Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.

The duo have done their best to keep the team in the chasing pack, but consistency has been an issue. While their defence has been rock solid, their attack has often been lethargic.

They had a moment to savour earlier this year when they lifted the Nedbank Cup. 

3 Sekhukhune United

Babina Noko enjoyed a bright start to the season, going five games unbeaten and topping the log. However, they struggled towards the end of the year, including a six-game winless streak — a run that slightly increased pressure on coach Eric Tinkler.

While they faced challenges such as dips in form and injuries to key players, Tinkler lacked early solutions to plug the gaps, exposing the team’s limitations in sustaining a long title challenge.

He also struggled to adapt tactically. Having relied heavily on long balls to find Bradley Grobler up front, Sekhukhune faltered whenever the striker was unavailable.

2 Mamelodi Sundowns

Sundowns were not at their best over the past few months. They stuttered across the board, making for a nervy campaign for coach Miguel Cardoso, who is already under pressure.

The Brazilains looked out of shape in the first half of the campaign, struggling to establish a clear direction. As a result, individual brilliance — such as that of Nuno Santos — stood out more than collective progress.

The team’s shortcomings have already put them on the back foot in the title race. They trail Pirates by two points with a game in hand, an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position for a club accustomed to winning titles with ease.

Nevertheless, they remain the premier club in South Africa, especially after winning an unprecedented eighth consecutive title earlier this year. 

1 Orlando Pirates

New coach Abdeslam Ouaddou steered the Sea Robbers into calm waters in the first half of the season — a journey he crowned with the MTN8, the Carling Knockout, and a top finish in the Betway Premiership standings.

Granted, Ouaddou inherited an existing foundation laid by predecessor Jose Riveiro, but he has also built a solid structure of his own so far. Pirates have notably improved defensively, both from set pieces and in open play.

The Moroccan has also shown his acumen by managing his oversized squad effectively in order to maintain healthy competition within the team.