With the 2008/09 Absa Premiership set for kick-off, it's time to look at the 16 teams that will be participating in South African soccer's top-flight.

AJAX CAPE TOWN
Formed: 1999 after a merger between Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs
Nickname: 'The Urban Warriors'
Based: Ikamva, cnr Frans Conradie Drive and Bertie Genade Street, Parow
Team named after: Ajax Amsterdam (Holland)
Official sponsor: MTN
Some well-known former stars: Thembinkosi 'Tera' Fanteni, Brent Carelse, Edelbert Dinha
Notable achievements: Rothmans Cup champions (2001) and Absa Cup champions (2007) and also finished as runners-up in the 2007/08 Absa Premiership season.

AMAZULU
Formed: 1932
Previous name: Zulu Royals FC
Nickname: 'Usuthu'
Based: 33 Northway Drive, Durban North
Coach: Clive Barker (former Bafana Bafana coach)
Technical Director: Neil Tovey (former Bafana Bafana captain)
Most appearances: George Dearnely
Former actor who played for AmaZulu as a goalkeeper: Henry Cele (who played King Shaka in the Shaka Zulu drama)

BAY UNITED
Formed: 2006
Nickname: 'Watsh'umlilo'
Based: 1st Floor Westway Centre, 349 Cape Road, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth
Most recent achievement: Winners; National First Division Platinum Play-offs
Season joined the PSL: 2008/09 season

BIDVEST WITS
Date of formation: 1921
Previous name: Wits University FC
Nicknames: 'The Clever Boys', 'Students'
Physical address: Second Floor, The Atrium Building, 41 Stanley Avenue, Auckland Park, Johannesburg
Chairman: Cyril Ramaphosa
Official sponsor: BidVest
Coach: Roger de Sa (former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper)
Assistant coach: Eric Tinkler (former Bafana Bafana midfielder)
Most appearances: Peter Gordon (415)

BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC
Formed: 1969
Nicknames: Phunya Sele Sele, Siwelele
Based: Bloemfontein Club, 8 Elizabeth Street Bloemfontein
Chairman and Managing Director: Demetri 'Jimmy' Augousti
Life President: Petrus Molemela
Home ground: Seisa Ramabodu Stadium
Most goals: Benjamin Reed 75
Coach: Mich D'Avray (former South Africa Under-23 coach)
Captain: John Maduka (former Malawi captain)

FREE STATE STARS
Formed: 1979
Previous name: Qwa Qwa Stars, Maholosiane
Nickname: 'Ea Lla Koto'
Based: 56 Church Street, Bethlehem West, Bethlehem
Most capped player: Steve Khompela (current South Africa Under-23 coach)
Notable recent success: Baymed Cup champions (2006), Mvela Golden League champions (2004/05 and 2006/07)

GOLDEN ARROWS
Formed: 1943
Nickname: 'Abafana Bes'thende'
Based: Absa Stadium, Jacko Jackson Drive, Durban
Notable recent success: National First Division Coastal Stream champions (1999/00)
Coach: Manqoba Mngqithi

KAIZER CHIEFS
Founded: 1970
Nicknames: 'Amakhosi', 'Phefeni Glamour Boys)
Based: 5/6 Lena Road, Lenaron, Naturena
CEO: Kaizer Motaung
Coach: Muhsin Ertugral (Turkey)
Captain: Jimmy Tau
Some well-known former players: Doctor Khumalo, Marks Maponyane, John Moshoeu, Neil Tovey
Notable recent success: Telkom Knockout champions (2007), Absa Premiership champions (2004/05), Coca-Cola Cup champions

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Formed: 1970
Previous name: Double Action Sundowns
Nickname: 'The Brazilians'
Based: 132 Chloorkop Ext 2, Cnr Allendale Road and Chloorkop, Midrand
President: Patrice Motsepe
Coach: Trott Moloto (former Bafana Bafana coach)
Technical Director: Ted Dumitru (former Bafana Bafana coach)
Some well-known former players: Mike Ntombela, Daniel Mudau, Zane Moosa
Notable recent success: Castle Premiership champions (2006/2007), 2007 SAA Supa 8 winners, 2007 Nedbank Cup winners

MARITZBURG UNITED
Formed: 1979
Nickname: The Team of Choice
Based: 397 Victoria Road, Pietermaritzburg
Chairman: Farook Kadodia
Coach: Gordon Igesund
Assistant coach: Clinton Larsen
Notable recent success: 2007/08 National First Division champions

MOROKA SWALLOWS
Formed: 1947
Previous name(s): Corrugated Rovers, Moroka Swallows Big XV
Nicknames: 'The Beautiful Birds', 'Dube Birds', 'Izinyoni'
Based: 22 Wellington Road, Parktown
CEO: Leon Prins
Coach: Julio Cesar Leal (Brazil)
Head of Youth Development: Eddie Lewis
Some well-known former players: Ace Mnini, Goodman Hlongwane, Daniel 'Vader' Mophosho
Notable recent success: Absa Cup winners (2004)

ORLANDO PIRATES
Formed: 1937
Nicknames: 'The Buccaneers', 'Ezikamagebhula'
Based: 2nd Floor Oakhurst, 11 St. Andrews Road, Parktown
Chairman and Managing Director: Irvin Khoza
Coach: Rudolf 'Rudi' Krol (Holland)
Some well-known former players: Bashin Mahlangu, Jerry Skhosana, Mark Fish, Gavin Lane, Tebogo Moloi
Notable recent success: Premier Soccer League champions (2000/01 and 2002/03), 2008 Telkom Chairty Cup champions

PLATINUM STARS
Formed: 1998 (Bought Khakhu Fast XI Second Division franchise)
Previous name(s): Mapate Silver Stars, Silver Stars
Nicknames: 'The Lions of the North', 'The Tycoons'
Based: Prudent House, 11 Kirkby Road, Bedfordview
Chairman and MD: George Khonou
CEO: Larry Brookstone
Communications Manager: Putco Mafani
Head coach: Miguel Angel Gamondi (Argentina)
Notable recent success: 2006 Telkom Knockout champions

SANTOS Formed: 1982
Previous name(s): Lightbodys Santos FC
Nickname: 'The People's Team'
Based: 324 Landsdowne Road, Landsdowne
Chairman: Goolam Allie
Coach: David Bright (Botswana)
Assistant coach: Jean-Marc Ithier (Mauratius)
Most capped player: Musa Otieno Ongao (Kenya)
Notable recent success: 2003 Absa Cup winners

SUPERSPORT UNITED
Formed: 1994 (Bought Pretoria City franchise)
Previous name(s): Pretoria City
Nickname: 'Matsatsantsa a Pitori'
Based: 11 Grove Street, Randburg
Chairman: Khulu Sibiya
Coach: Gavin Hunt
Captain: Ricardo Katza
Notable recent success: 2004 SAA Supa 8 champions, 2004 Absa Cup winners

THANDA ROYAL ZULU
Formed: 2001
Previous name(s): Hellenic FC, Benoni Premier United
Nickname: 'Amabhubesi'
Based: Empangeni
Chairman: Johan Glennmo
CEO: Pierre Delvaux
Head coach: Roger Palmgren
Assistant coach: Johan Eriksson (son of former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson)
Notable recent success: 2005/06 Mvela Platinum Play-offs champions
RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook