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The 1971 National Professional Soccer League season was the first season of the National Professional Soccer League. Orlando Pirates won the inaugural title.

At the time, due to the country's apartheid policies, the competition was only open to black South African teams, and it ran in parallel with the FPL and the NFL.

1971 NPSL First Division
Champions	Orlando Pirates (1st title)
Relegated	none
Matches played	156
Goals scored	851 (5.46 per match)
1972 →

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Orlando Pirates (C)	24	17	4	3	81	33	+48	38
2	Kaizer Chiefs	24	18	1	5	83	41	+42	37
3	Moroka Swallows Big XV	24	15	5	4	75	49	+26	35
4	Witbank Black Aces	24	17	0	7	85	43	+42	34
5	Pimville United Bros	24	13	3	8	79	53	+26	29
6	Zulu Royals	24	10	3	11	80	88	−8	23
7	Bantu Callies	24	10	1	13	64	68	−4	21
8	Mamelodi XI^[a]	24	8	4	12	50	99	−49	20
9	Vaal Professionals	24	7	5	12	57	68	−11	19
10	Lamontville Golden Arrows	24	9	1	14	50	61	−11	19
11	Real Katlehong City	24	7	1	16	57	76	−19	15
12	Bloemfontein Celtic	24	5	4	15	42	69	−27	14
13	Kimberly Dalton Bros	24	2	4	18	48	110	−62	8

Source: ^[1]
(C) Champions
Notes:

^ Mamelodi XI disbanded after one season

References

^ Raath, Peter (2002). Soccer through the years, 1862-2002. [Cape Town?]: P. Raath. ISBN 9780620298056.

v t e Seasons in South African soccer
Premiership teams (2023–24)	AmaZulu Cape Town City Cape Town Spurs Chippa United Golden Arrows Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns Moroka Swallows Pirates Polokwane City Richards Bay Royal AM Sekhukhune United Stellenbosch SuperSport United TS Galaxy
First Division teams (2023–24)	Baroka Black Leopards Casric Stars Hungry Lions JDR Stars Jomo Cosmos Magesi Maritzburg United Marumo Gallants Milford MM Platinum Orbit College Platinum City Pretoria Callies TS Sporting University of Pretoria Upington City Venda
Premier Soccer League	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
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
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
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
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 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Carling Black Label Cup	2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2021 2022
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
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 1988 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