What’s the Lowest Goal Tally by a Team in a Betway Premiership Season, and Are We Nearing That Record?

The Bloemfontein side has managed to score a mere 12 goals in 22 league matches, an astonishingly poor return that highlights the ineffectiveness of their defensive-minded approach, which offers little entertainment for supporters.

Despite their struggles in front of goal, Siwelele sits in 10th place, owing to a similar defensive record, having conceded just 16 times. Altogether, this results in a mere 28 goals across both ends in their 22 games, averaging 1.27 goals per match—far from a good value for fans paying for tickets.

Astoundingly, only five players have scored for Siwelele this season: Siviwe Magidigidi (four goals), Vincent Pule (three), and both Tebogo Potsane and Chibuike Ohizu with two each, along with Kgaogelo Sekgota contributing one goal.

Recently, Magidigidi has been sold to Beerschot in Belgium.

It’s safe to assert that they possess the league’s least effective attack, yet it may not necessarily lead to their relegation.

Last season, Cape Town City paid the price for their inability to score, netting only 15 times in 28 games during a shortened season owing to the collapse of Royal AM.

However, there have been worse performances in South Africa’s top division. In fact, Jomo Cosmos were relegated in the 2007/08 season after managing just 13 goals over 30 matches—an astonishing statistic.

That season, Cosmos went goalless in 21 of their matches, with five goals coming in quick succession during a 2-2 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns and a 3-1 win against Moroka Swallows. They only netted eight times in their other 28 fixtures.

Anthony Laffor scored five for Cosmos, while Reneilwe Letsholonyane contributed two, and Nkosinathi Nhleko, returning from his overseas stints in the U.S., Sweden, and Norway, managed just one.

Interestingly, both Cosmos and Tembisa Classic feature three times on the list of lowest scorers, more than any other clubs.

However, scoring fewer goals doesn’t always equate to relegation.

During the 2023/24 Betway Premiership, Polokwane City boasted the worst attack with a mere 21 goals yet still managed an eighth-place finish.

Sekhukhune United also struggled offensively, scoring 21 in the 2021/22 season, but wound up in 11th. Similarly, Bloemfontein Celtic’s 16 goals in the 2016/17 season secured them 12th place.

The ‘highest of the lowest’ in terms of scoring during a 30-match PSL season was Bay United’s 26 goals in 2008/09, which nowadays would be considered a reasonable tally, although it still resulted in relegation.

 

Fewest goals scored in a PSL season

Over a 34-match season

1996/97: Witbank Aces – 26

1997/98: Moroka Swallows – 30

1998/99: Dynamos – 20

1999/00: Mother City – 22

2000/01: Tembisa Classic – 26

2001/02: Tembisa Classic – 29

Over a 30-match season

2002/03: African Wanderers – 21

2003/04: Jomo Cosmos – 21

2004/05: Wits University – 24

2005/06: Tembisa Classic – 23

2006/07: Benoni Premier United, AmaZulu – 22

2007/08: Jomo Cosmos – 13

2008/09: Bay United – 26

2009/10: Mpumalanga Black Aces – 20

2010/11: Mpumalanga Black Aces – 19

2011/12: Jomo Cosmos – 24

2012/13: AmaZulu – 22

2013/14: University of Pretoria – 25

2014/15: Chippa United – 23

2015/16: Jomo Cosmos – 20

2016/17: Bloemfontein Celtic – 16

2017/18: Ajax Cape Town – 21

2018/19: Maritzburg United – 22

2019/20: Chippa United – 18

2020/21: Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila – 19

2021/22: Sekhukhune United – 21

2022/23: Richards Bay – 20

2023/24: Polokwane City – 21

 

Over a 28-match season

2024/25: Cape Town City – 15