The Betway Premiership, South Africa’s top-flight football league, continues to showcase a remarkable blend of emerging talent and seasoned veterans.
While clubs are investing in youth development, many coaches still rely heavily on players whose experience and consistency have made them mainstays in the league.
Free Spins, Flights, and Bets on Betway
Here’s a look at the five current players who have amassed the most starts in the South African top flight – pillars of longevity and leadership in domestic football.
All numbers correct as at the time of publishing
RONWEN WILLIAMS
Starts: 509
Debut: SuperSport United 2-0 Matlama (30 January 2011, African Champions League first round, first leg)
Before the start of the season, Williams was on 494 career starts, stretching back over 12 seasons at SuperSport United and three with Mamelodi Sundowns. This campaign, he has not missed a minute of action, with 15 games played before the weekend’s second leg of their CAF Champions League tie against Remo Stars and is now third on the all-time list of appearances in South African football history.
DENIS ONYANGO
Starts: 404
Debut: SuperSport United 2-0 AmaZulu (13 September 2006)
The 40-year-old is no longer the oldest player in the league, but his 20th season in the Premier Soccer League is the most by an active player. He would need to get some game time this campaign to verify 20 seasons and has yet to appear for Mamelodi Sundowns, but did play for Uganda in a surprise comeback from international retirement last month. He is presumably heading to the Africa Cup of Nations finals next month.
THABO MATLABA
Starts: 400
Debut: Free State Stars 0-0 Santos (28 August 2010)
The former international fullback is the only non-Mamelodi Sundowns player in the top five. He is not likely to see much game time this season at the fast-paced Lamontville Golden Arrows, who snapped him up in April when Royal AM were shut down. Matlaba started at Free State Stars, but has his best spell over eight seasons at Orlando Pirates. His 400th game came when Arrows lost to Polokwane City last month.
THEMBA ZWANE
Starts: 392
Debut: Santos 2-5 Mamelodi Sundowns (30 November 2011)
Injury early in his 15th season of professional football has set Zwane back again after his serious knee injury ruled him out of most of last season. He has not had much luck in this campaign either, although he is expected to be back soon. Zwane has spent all but one season with Mamelodi Sundowns, winning league titles and the CAF Champions League. His other club was Mpumalanga Black Aces.
GRANT KEKANA
Starts: 368
Debut: SuperSport United 2-0 Matlama (30 January 2011, African Champions League first round, first leg)
Last season Kekana started 40 matches for Mamelodi Sundowns in what was the most he has played in a single campaign across his 15 seasons in the professional game. He spent nine seasons at SuperSport United, making his debut in the same game as Ronwen Williams, and had two seasons on loan at the University of Pretoria. This is his fourth season at Masandawana, where he is set to return this weekend from an injury suffered in August.
