2001–02 National First Division

National First Division
Season2001–02
ChampionsAfrican Wanderers (Coastal)
Dynamos (Inland)
PromotedAfrican Wanderers, Dynamos

The 2001–02 National First Division was the 6th season of the second tier of South African soccer since the reorganisation in 1996.

It consisted of two streams, an Inland stream of 16 teams, and a Coastal stream of 14 teams.

The Coastal stream was won by African Wanderers[1] and the Inland stream by Dynamos, with both earning promotion to the 2002–03 Premier Soccer League.

Two seasons after setting a number of records for worst performing team in the Premier Division, Mother City were relegated from the Coastal Stream, finishing bottom.[2]

Bribery allegations

The manager of promotion-chasing Avendale Athletico, Trevor Heinrich, along with the coach, David Byrne, claimed to have been approached shortly before the club's game against William Pescod by a man offering that he could arrange for the game to go their way, for R6,000. The man claimed that another club, also in the promotion race, had offered the referee R4,500. Avendale refused the offer, and the game was drawn 1-1, with Avendale having a goal disallowed in the last minute.[3]

League winners Wanderers defeated Avendale Athletico 1–0 in another key game, with a goal controversially disallowed amongst allegations of bribery and corruption.[4]

Coastal stream

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 African Wanderers (C, P) 26 16 7 3 45 21 +24 55 Promoted to 2002–03 Premier Soccer League
2 Avendale Athletico 26 13 9 4 48 23 +25 48
3 Maritzburg City 25 13 6 6 37 18 +19 45
4 Park United 26 11 9 6 32 28 +4 42
5 Saxon Rovers 26 10 11 5 41 35 +6 41
6 Rainbow Stars 26 10 8 8 37 38 −1 38
7 Basotho Tigers 26 10 6 10 39 38 +1 36
8 William Pescod 26 8 8 10 34 39 −5 32
9 PE Technikon 26 8 8 10 24 32 −8 32
10 Premier United 26 7 8 11 33 38 −5 29
11 Royal Tigers 26 6 10 10 27 41 −14 28
12 FC Fortune 26 6 9 11 30 43 −13 27
13 Newtons (R) 25 5 5 15 25 37 −12 20 Relegation to 2002–03 SAFA Second Division
14 Mother City (R) 26 1 10 15 20 41 −21 13
Source: [5]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Inland stream

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Dynamos (C, P) 30 19 8 3 51 22 +29 65 Promoted to 2002–03 Premier Soccer League
2 Silver Stars 30 18 7 5 52 32 +20 61
3 Pietersburg Pillars 30 19 3 8 53 29 +24 60
4 Bloemfontein Celtic 30 17 8 5 48 29 +19 59
5 Bloemfontein Young Tigers 30 14 7 9 44 29 +15 49
6 Welkom Stars 30 14 5 11 53 48 +5 47
7 Mabopane Young Masters 30 14 4 12 37 30 +7 46
8 Spartak 30 12 5 13 48 41 +7 41
9 City Sharks 30 11 8 11 37 41 −4 41
10 Ledwaba Power Stars 30 10 7 13 49 48 +1 37
11 Alexandra United 30 8 9 13 37 45 −8 33
12 Dobsonville All Nations 30 9 5 16 43 55 −12 32
13 Sporting 30 8 6 16 35 53 −18 30
14 Witbank Black Aces 30 7 6 17 38 56 −18 27
15 Katlehong City (R) 30 5 8 17 28 56 −28 23 Relegation to 2002–03 SAFA Second Division
16 Mamelodi Juventus (R) 30 4 6 20 29 68 −39 18
Source: [5]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

References

  1. ^ "PSL clubs since 1994". Kick Off. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2023 – via PressReader.
  2. ^ "HISTORY: The PSL from 1996 to 2002 – FARPost". 22 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ^ "New soccer bribe claim". IOL. 21 March 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. ^ "About the NFD". www.psl.co.za. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b "South Africa 2001/02".