1988 NSL First Division

NSL First Division
Season	1988
Champions	Mamelodi Sundowns
Relegated	Umtata Bucks Natal United
← 1987 1989 →

The 1988 National Soccer League First Division was the fourth edition of the National Soccer League First Division in South Africa. It was won by Mamelodi Sundowns.

The other professional league, the Federation Professional League, continued to function independently.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Relegation
1	Mamelodi Sundowns (C)	34	18	8	8	46	29	+17	44
2	Jomo Cosmos	34	19	5	10	54	34	+20	43
3	Arcadia	34	15	13	6	35	25	+10	43
4	Kaizer Chiefs	34	15	12	7	56	31	+25	42
5	Bloemfontein Celtic	34	13	16	5	47	25	+22	42
6	Orlando Pirates	34	14	12	8	33	26	+7	40
7	Wits University	34	14	11	9	49	40	+9	39
8	Witbank Aces	34	11	15	8	34	38	−4	37
9	Hellenic	34	10	13	11	41	42	−1	33
10	Fairways Stars	34	9	15	10	37	49	−12	33
11	Cape Town Spurs	34	11	8	15	40	39	+1	30
12	Moroka Swallows	34	9	12	13	25	34	−9	30
13	Rangers	34	10	9	15	36	47	−11	29
14	Leeds United	34	9	10	15	44	51	−7	28
15	Amazulu	34	10	8	16	38	45	−7	28
16	Durban Bush Bucks	34	8	11	15	29	35	−6	27
17	Umtata Bucks (R)	34	8	10	16	27	48	−21	26	Relegation to NSL Second Division
18	Natal United (R)	34	4	10	20	20	52	−32	18	Relegation to NSL Second Division

Source: ^[1]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

References

^ "South Africa 1988".

Seasons in South African soccer
Premiership teams (2025–26)	AmaZulu Chippa United Durban City Golden Arrows Kaizer Chiefs Magesi Marumo Gallants Mamelodi Sundowns Orbit College Pirates Polokwane City Richards Bay Sekhukhune United Stellenbosch Siwelele TS Galaxy
First Division teams (2025–26)	Baroka The Bees Black Leopards Cape Town City Casric Stars Gomora United Highbury Hungry Lions JDR Stars Kruger United Midlands Wanderers Milford Pretoria Callies University of Pretoria Upington City Venda
Premiership	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26
National First Division	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26
SAFA Second Division	1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26
Nedbank Cup	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
MTN 8	1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Telkom Knockout/Carling Knockout Cup	1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2023 2024
Carling Black Label Cup	2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2021 2022
National Football League	1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
Federation Professional League	1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
NPSL (1971-1977)	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
NPSL (1978-1984)	1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
NPSL (1985-1995)	1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1984 1992 1983 1994 1995
National Soccer League (NSL)	1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
SASF Cup	1961 1962 1963 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Telkom Charity Cup	1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Vodacom Challenge	1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011