Oswin Appollis writes his name into South African Premiership history with season’s first goal

Orlando Pirates winger Oswin Appollis etched his name into South African Premiership history after scoring the first goal of the 2026/27 season in the Buccaneers’ opening-day clash against newly promoted Milford FC on Saturday.

The Namibia international broke the deadlock to become the latest player to achieve the unique feat of netting the campaign’s opening goal, adding another milestone to an impressive start to his Orlando Pirates career since arriving at the club last season.

While there is no official award attached to the achievement, scoring the first goal of a new league season remains a notable piece of football trivia, with only one player earning the distinction each year.

Latest name on an exclusive list

Appollis now joins a select group of players who have opened South Africa’s top-flight scoring each season since the Premier Soccer League era began in 1996.

Last season, Marumo Gallants’ Bheki Mabuza needed just three minutes to score the opening goal of the campaign in a 2-1 away victory over Richards Bay. The versatile midfielder finished the season with three league goals as Gallants narrowly preserved their top-flight status.

The previous two campaigns also saw Namibian players make the first breakthrough of the season. Cape Town City’s Prins Tjiueza found the net seven minutes into the opening match of the 2024/25 campaign, while Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile achieved the feat in the 2023/24 season with an early strike against Sekhukhune United.

Appollis has now ensured Namibia’s remarkable influence on South African football continues, becoming the third Namibian player in four seasons to score the opening goal of a league campaign.

Rare achievement in league history

Since the start of the Premier Soccer League era three decades ago, only three foreign players have managed to score the first goal of a new season.

Zimbabwean Ian Gorowa achieved the feat for Cape Town Spurs at the start of the 1998/99 campaign before later taking charge of Mamelodi Sundowns as head coach.

The league’s very first goal was scored by AmaZulu’s Warren Lewis when the PSL era kicked off in 1996, while the fastest opening-day goal remains Ishmael Maluleke’s first-minute strike for Manning Rangers during the 2001/02 season.

Interestingly, no player has ever managed to score the opening goal of the South African Premiership in more than one season, making Appollis’ achievement another unique entry in the competition’s record books.

Although the honour carries no trophy or financial reward, it guarantees the Orlando Pirates star a permanent place in the history of South African football as the man who officially got the 2026/27 league season underway.