It is the perfect time to take stock, and over the next while we will have a series of articles that reflect on the season to date and look ahead to what is to come.
Here is a look at who has the ‘most’ in various categories.
Most games
15 – Durban City, Siwelele, Chippa United
This trio are the only teams to have reached the halfway mark of their season, with most other clubs having played 14 games but league leaders Orlando Pirates just 12. It will be a busy second half of the season for the latter, though they are not burdened by CAF Champions League football.
Most points
28 – Orlando Pirates
Pirates lead Mamelodi Sundowns by two points with a game in hand, and their points-per-game tally of 2.33 is excellent. If they keep up that rate they will finish on 70 for the season, probably enough for the title in this campaign. At Sundowns’ current rate they are heading for 60 points.
Most wins
9 – Orlando Pirates
Despite playing the fewest games, Pirates have the most wins, two more than anyone else, with Sundowns, Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu all on seven.
Biggest win
Lamontville Golden Arrows 4-0 Marumo Gallants
Golden Arrows romped to the biggest win of the season so far in early November, though the scoreline was only 1-0 heading into the 75th minute.
Most draws
6 – Kaizer Chiefs, Marumo Gallants, Chippa United
This will be a frustrating statistic for Kaizer Chiefs fans, who will know their side should have turned at least half of these draws into wins with better finishing. Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate at TS Galaxy is a perfect example.
Most losses
9 – Orbit College
Promoted Orbit have been beaten the most times, but are out of the relegation zone by virtue of their four wins and a draw too. Lamontville Golden Arrows, bottom side Chippa United and, most surprisingly, Stellenbosch FC have eight defeats.
Most goals scored
20 – Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns remain the most free-scoring side in the Betway Premiership, even if this has not been their best season. This remains true if we do the calculation on goals-per-game as well, at 1.54.
Most goals conceded
25 – Orbit College
Orbit College head this list as well, which will be a real red flag for the remainder of the season and something they will need to get right. Chippa United (21) are next on the list.
Most goals in a game
7 - Stellenbosch FC 4-3 Lamontville Golden Arrows
An amazing game in which Stellenbosch led four times before eventually earning the win. Each time they scored, Golden Arrows countered with an equaliser before the fourth goal did the trick.
Highest goal-difference
+13 – Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns
The top two have the same goal difference, ahead of Sekhukhune with +9. Eight clubs have a positive goal difference, while the worst is Chippa with –14.
Top scorer
7 – Sede Dion
Golden Arrows forward Sede Dion leads the Golden Boot race with seven goals. Those have come from 13 starts. If you look at the player with the best ratio of goals-per-minute-on-the-pitch (minimum five goals) it is Stellenbosch’s Langelihle Phili with a goal every 106 minutes.
Most yellow cards
The TS Galaxy centre-back has been booked eight times in 13 starts this season, the most of any player in the top flight. He is heading to AFCON with Bafana Bafana and will need to curb those tendencies …
Most red cards
Only one player has been sent off twice so far this season, and it is the Magesi defensive midfielder Mtshali. One of those was a straight red against Sundowns, the other for two bookable offences in their last clash against Orbit College.
