Only seven DStv Premiership players appeared for 40 matches or more across all official competitions in 2021/22, and all seven are from either Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates. Both clubs, which qualified for, and participated in intercontinental club competitions hosted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) beyond the group stages, were the two teams with the highest number of matches at the end of the last season, and two of four teams with over 40 matches.
The number of appearances a player makes for their club is determined by their importance to the team, as well as the total number of matches played by their team across all official competitions.
Every club plays at least 31 matches comprising 30 league matches and at least one Nedbank Cup match, which they automatically qualify for by virtue of being part of the top-flight setup.
Qualifying clubs that progress to advanced stages of the other competitions which are affiliated with the league namely the MTN 8 as well as the intercontinental CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Champions League – can play up to 50 matches every season. You can read more about that here: Bloated squad sizes don’t benefit SA’s top football teams
Current DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns played the highest number of matches, 49, last season having won all domestic competitions and progressing through to the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League. Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates, which reached the finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, played the second highest number of matches.
Footballer of the season Peter Shalulile played in 45 out of Sundowns’ 49 matches, managing to accumulate just under 4,000 minutes of game time during the season.
