Most starts: Julius Chirwa – 244
A KwaMashu-born star who would feature for AmaZulu through the 1980s and early 1990s, Chirwa is a club legend who was a midfield rock for the side. He was an all-action box-to-box player with an eye for goal and was part of the Usuthu side that won the Coca-Cola Cup in 1992.
Most starts: Andile Mbenyane – 172
The stalwart striker had been with Chippa since their third-tier days and, despite periods away, kept returning for fresh spells before his retirement at the end of the 2023/24 season. He spent almost all of his professional career with Chippa, although he had earlier spells with Ajax Cape Town and Ikapa Sporting. He managed 21 goals and 14 assists for Chippa.
Most starts: Kurt Lentjies – 144
Midfielder Lentjies edges out goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters by a single start on the Durban City list, having enjoyed two successful spells when the club was known as Maritzburg United. He left for Chippa United at the start of the 2017/18 season as Maritzburg sought to refresh their squad, and also played for Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic in a fine PSL career.
Most starts: Doctor Khumalo – 397
Doctor Khumalo is a club legend, having spent almost his entire senior career with Kaizer Chiefs aside from brief stints overseas in Argentina and the United States during the mid-1990s. He won a staggering 18 trophies with the side, including three league titles, and was known for his artistry in midfield. His playing career with Chiefs stretched from 1987 to 2004.
Most starts: Boitumelo Malatjie – 52
Right-back Malatjie has been a key player in the brief history of Kruger United, helping them to promotion last season. He has made 52 starts in a little over two seasons with the side, though only one so far this campaign. United have been his only professional club to date.
Most starts: Musa Bilankulu – 200
The defender/defensive midfielder had two spells with Golden Arrows, the most recent of which ended in 2019/20. He also played for Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic, and was largely a regular at Abafana Bes’thende until late in his career.
Most starts: Daniel Mudau – 390
A record that is unlikely to be broken in this day and age, when one-club footballers are a very rare breed. Nippy forward Mudau is also the leading goalscorer for Sundowns with 172 goals and was a great servant to the club between 1992 and 2003. He never quite cut it at international level, but was a prolific forward in the domestic game and a true club legend.
Most starts: Washington Arubi – 152
The veteran Zimbabwean goalkeeper was the number one at Gallants until this season, having had two spells at the club. He was a model of consistency but, at the age of 40, has since been replaced in the side.
Most starts: Siphamandla Hleza – 81
The goalkeeper has been a big part of Milford’s recent campaigns and started 28 of their 30 matches in their promotion season in 2025/26. He has started the new season as their first choice as well, so looks set to extend his record further. Milford is the only professional club the 34-year-old has played for to date.
Most starts: Happy Jele – 402
Jele passed the great former Pirates goalkeeper Williams Okpara for most starts in the 2021/22 season, but was then somewhat surprisingly released at the end of the campaign. He later joined Royal AM but battled with fitness. Until then, he had been a one-club man, spending 16 years at Pirates. He had also been fortunate to suffer few injuries until the final few years of his career.
Most starts: Puleng Marema – 227
Most PSL fans will remember him as Puleng Tlolane from when Polokwane City last campaigned in the top flight before he changed his surname to Marema. A one-club man, he has spent more than a decade at City and stayed loyal to them when they were relegated to the NFD in 2019/20. He is also the club’s leading scorer with 68 goals in all competitions. He remains part of their plans for this season, though he has yet to feature.
Most starts: Simphiwe Mcineka – 206
Mcineka has been a one-club man to this point, campaigning with Richards Bay when they were in the second tier. The 29-year-old centre-back has been a stalwart since his debut in 2017/18, having been with the club since their formation. He will feel he has a good few seasons left in him to extend his record further.
Most starts: Daniel Cardoso – 118
The veteran centre-back continues to play an important role for Sekhukhune and the win over Polokwane City was his 100th start for the club in the league since he joined in the 2022/23 season. He has 118 starts in all competitions and, at the age of 37, continues to be a rock at the back for the Limpopo side.
Most starts: Ricardo Goss – 30
With Goss having returned to Mamelodi Sundowns for this season, it is likely this record will be broken in the coming weeks. He started 29 of their 30 league games in the last campaign, their first as a club after they purchased the status of SuperSport United and relocated to Bloemfontein.
Most starts: Sage Stephens – 178
The 35-year-old goalkeeper has been a consistent performer for Stellenbosch since he arrived at the club in the 2020/21 season and has largely been the number one in that time. He previously played for Moroka Swallows, AmaZulu and Cape Town City in the South African top flight and has spent more than a decade in the Betway Premiership.
Most starts: Mlungisi Mbunjana – 129
The hard-working midfielder has reached veteran status at the age of 35 but continues to cover ground and work hard in the centre of the park for TS Galaxy. He has come off the bench in their three league games so far this campaign, so perhaps his influence is waning a little, but there is no doubt he will play an important part for coach Bernard Parker this season.