Nkaki is Betway Premiership’s Mr Consistency

Polokwane City centre back Lebohang Nkaki has completed a second successive Betway Premiership without missing a league game in a remarkable record of consistency.

The 32-year-old Nkaki has now played 59 successive league matches since Polokwane City’s promotion in 2023, finishing the season on Saturday in a goalless draw with Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City.

Nkaki played every minute of Polokwane City's 29 league matches this season (they had an extra game against Royal AM).

It is the first time a player has been ever-present for two successive league seasons since Ronwen Wiliams had 30 starts in goal for SuperSport United in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns.

Cape Town City goalkeeper Darren Keet is the only other player who started every league game in the 2024-25 campaign, despite his side battling against relegation.

Keet has not missed a match since September 2023 and when he lined up against Stellenbosch in the derby at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, he made it 60 starts in a row.

Last season, Nkaki was one of three players who were ever-present in the league, along with TS Galaxy captain Pogisho Sanoka and defensive colleague MacBeth Mahlangu. Sanoka moved to SuperSport United at the start of this season and started only 15 games.

Mahlangu, who did not miss a minute of league action in the 2023-24 campaign, started the new season with a red card and then got injured in training in January.

Chippa United’s Basotho international centre-back Thabo Makhele finished this season one game short of a full house of league starts after missing the clash against SuperSport United in November.

Ever-present in a league campaign

Started all 30 league games

2024-25: Darren Keet (Cape Town City), Lebohang Nkaki (Polokwane City)

2023-24: Lebohang Nkaki (Polokwane City), MacBeth Mahlangu, Pogisho Sanoka (both TS Galaxy)

2022-23: Daniel Cardoso (Sekhukhune United); Given Msimango (TS Galaxy)

2021-22: Riaan Hanamub (Chippa United); Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns)

2020-21: Sifiso Mlungwana (Lamontville Golden Arrows)

2019-20: Siyethemba Sithebe (AmaZulu); Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park); Daniel Cardoso (Kaizer Chiefs); Ntsako Makhubela, Matome Mathiane (both Lamontville Golden Arrows); Rushine de Reuck (Maritzburg United); Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)

2018-19: Luckyboy Mokwena (Highlands Park); Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United); Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)