The 1983 National Professional Soccer League was the sixth season of the multi-racial South African National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). The league was a merger of the previous NPSL, which due to the country's apartheid policies were for black teams only, and the National Football League, for white teams only.
The other professional league, the non-racial Federation Professional League, continued to function independently.
It was won by Durban City,[1] managed by Clive Barker, who defended their title won in 1982.[2][3][4]
Changes
Jomo Sono, after ending his playing career in the United States, purchased Highlands Park, naming the new club Dion Cosmos.[5]
Cape Town Spurs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Welkom Real Hearts and Ireland United were promoted.
AmaZulu, Bloemfontein Celtic, Leicester City were relegated from the 1982 NPSL First Division.[3]
With four clubs promoted, and three relegated, the size of the league expanded to 19 teams.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durban City | 34 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 70 | 35 | +35 | 50 |
| 2 | Arcadia Shepherds | 35 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 68 | 43 | +25 | 45 |
| 3 | Kaizer Chiefs | 33 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 43 | 25 | +18 | 43 |
| 4 | Wits University | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 46 | 38 | +8 | 42 |
| 5 | Moroka Swallows | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 40 |
| 6 | Hellenic | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 39 |
| 7 | Cape Town Spurs | 34 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 48 | 38 | +10 | 38 |
| 8 | Orlando Pirates | 33 | 16 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 37 |
| 9 | Dion Cosmos | 35 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 54 | 46 | +8 | 37 |
| 10 | Witbank Black Aces | 35 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 36 |
| 11 | Rangers | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 41 | 40 | +1 | 33 |
| 12 | Durban Bush Bucks | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 48 | 53 | −5 | 33 |
| 13 | Benoni United | 35 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 31 |
| 14 | Dynamos | 45 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 40 |
| 15 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 35 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 35 | 47 | −12 | 28 |
| 16 | African Wanderers (R) | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 42 | 61 | −19 | 26 |
| 17 | Mamelodi United (R) | 36 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 27 | 52 | −25 | 25 |
| 18 | Welkom Real Hearts (R) | 35 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 38 | 56 | −18 | 24 |
| 19 | Ireland United (R) | 35 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 22 | 63 | −41 | 19 |
References
- ^ "South Africa 1983". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "Durban Living Legend - Mark Steven Tovey - Community Memory". Ulwazi.org. 7 May 1955. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ a b "South Africa 1982". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ Dylan (18 September 2023). "Barker's Brilliance". SportsClub. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Our History - Highlands Park Football Club". www.highlandspark.co.za. Retrieved 11 March 2025.