National Soccer League (South Africa)

The National Soccer League (NSL) was a South African association football league established in 1985 as a response to boardroom disagreements in the non-racial NPSL.^[1] The NPSL had been established in 1978 after a merger between the white NFL and the previous racial black NPSL. A portion of the NPSL continued under its own name, and later merged with the NSL to form today's Premier Soccer League (PSL).

National Soccer League

Founded	1985
Folded	1995
Country	South Africa
Most championships	Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns (3 titles each)

The NSL faced accusations of endemic bribery and corruption in its ranks.^[2]

History

Champions

Year	Winner[3]	Runner-up	Third-place
1985	Bush Bucks	Rangers Johannesburg	Bloemfontein Celtic
1986	Rangers Johannesburg	Bush Bucks	Amazulu
1987	Jomo Cosmos	Kaizer Chiefs	Mamelodi Sundowns
1988	Mamelodi Sundowns	Jomo Cosmos	Arcadia
1989	Kaizer Chiefs	Orlando Pirates	Hellenic FC
1990	Mamelodi Sundowns	Kaizer Chiefs	Orlando Pirates
1991	Kaizer Chiefs	Sundowns	Fairway Stars
1992	Kaizer Chiefs	Hellenic FC	Wits University
1993	Mamelodi Sundowns	Moroka Swallows	AmaZulu
1994	Orlando Pirates	Cape Town Spurs	Umtata Bucks
1995	Cape Town Spurs	Sundowns	Orlando Pirates

Most titles

Team	Titles	Years
Mamelodi Sundowns	3	1988, 1990, 1993
Kaizer Chiefs	3	1989, 1991, 1992
Bush Bucks	1	1985
Rangers Johannesburg	1	1986
Jomo Cosmos	1	1987
Orlando Pirates	1	1994
Cape Town Spurs	1	1995

Top goalscorers

Season	Player	Goals	Team
1985	Frank McGrellis	25	Wits University
1986	Thomas Hlongwane	32	Moroka Swallows
1987	Noel Cousins	25	Arcadia Fluoride
1988	Shane McGregor	19	Grinaker Rangers & Kaizer Chiefs
1989	Noel Cousins	21	Arcadia Fluoride & Moroka Swallows
1990	Bennett Masinga	20	Mamelodi Sundowns
1991	Fani Madida	28	Kaizer Chiefs
1992	George Dearnaley	20	AmaZulu
1993	Daniel Mudau	22	Sundowns FC
1994	Wilfred Mugeyi	19	Umtata Bucks
1995	Gerald Stober	18	Hellenic