Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.

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Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.

Full name	Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Brazilians Bafana Ba Style Masandawana Downs Ka bo Yellow
Short name	Sundowns
Founded	1970; 51 years ago (1970)
Ground	Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Capacity	28,900 51,762
Owner	Patrice Motsepe
Manager	Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena
League	DStv Premiership
2020–21	1st (champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (simply known as Sundowns) is a South African professional football club based in Mamelodi, Pretoria in the Gauteng province that plays in the Premier Soccer League, the first tier of South African football league system. Founded in the 1970s, the team plays its home games in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.

Since the inception of the PSL in 1996, Sundowns have won the league title a record eleven times. It is currently the most successful football club in South Africa and arguably the biggest since its major transformation in 2004. They were the 2016 CAF Champions League champions and 2016 CAF Club of the Year. They have also won the Nedbank Cup four times, and hold the joint record of three National Football League Championships. They are the first South African team to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they finished in 6th place.

Sundowns is owned by South African business magnate Patrice Motsepe. The club's nickname, The Brazilians, is a reference to their soccer kit (blue and yellow) which resembles that of the Brazil national team. In recent times Sundowns has sent a number of players overseas, including Bongani Zungu, Percy Tau and Keagan Dolly. Sundowns became the first club from South Africa to finish a Champions League group stage unbeaten in the 2019-20 Season when they finished with a record 4-2-0.

Sundowns has won more league titles than any other club in South African football history.^{[citation needed]}

History[]

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club originated around Marabastad, a cosmopolitan area north west of the Pretoria CBD.

The club was originally formed in the early 1960s by a group of friends, among whom were Reginald Hartze, Joey Lawrence and Bernard Hartze. It became an official football club in 1970.

The club was affiliated to the Federation Professional Football League in 1973 and in the same year reached the finals of the Coca-Cola Cup, where they played against and lost 5–3.

In 1978, the Federation Professional League threw their weight behind the then . This meant the end of the Federation Professional League and the subsequent relegation of Sundowns to the second division.

For five years 'Downs battled to gain promotion and during that period the Sundowns' management resolved to disband the club, but instead the club relocated to Mamelodi in the early 1980s.

In 1985, South African football was the first sport to become non-racial and the National Soccer League was formed, incorporating the top clubs in the country.

Sundowns earned promotion to the NPSL in 1983, but in their first season in top-flight football, they found the going difficult until came on board in 1985 and appointed as their coach. Under the new owner Mahobe, Sundowns fortunes changed for the better as they began to challenge for top honours in the domestic league. The big spending Sundowns boss recruited the services of elite South African footballers on a quest for supremacy. Mahobe went to Soweto to acquire the services of the highly rated coach Stanley "Screamer" Tshabalala, who was assisting Blackpool at the time, to lead the ambitious Sundowns team. Under the tutelage of Screamer Tshabalala, Sundowns played an entertaining and effective brand of football which became known as "The Shoe Shine and Piano" and won various major trophies in the process to cement the club as one of the powerhouse of the South African football.

In 1988, the ownership of the club fell into the hands of Standard Bank, which repossessed the club from Zola Mahobe. The club went into liquidation and the football family Angelo and Natasha Tsichlas spoke to the bank and saved the club. They then formed a company with Abe Krok and bought 100% of the club. Under the Tsichlas/Krok leadership Sundowns became the best^[vague] team in South Africa. They won the first NSL League Trophy with Angelo Tsichlas as coach.

Premier Soccer League[]

National Soccer League was replaced by Premier Soccer League for the 1996–97 season. Sundowns won three consecutive titles from 1998 to 2000 as well as being Bob Save Super Bowl winners in 1998 and Rothmans Cup winners in 1999.

After dominating the local league by winning the league title three times in a row, Sundowns extended their focus to continental glory. In 2001, the club became only the second South African team to reach the prestigious CAF Champions League when they defeated Petro Atlético in the semifinals to reach their first continental cup final. The club reached the final of the 2001 CAF Champions League where they were defeated 4–1 on aggregate by Egyptian club Al Ahly.

Under Tsichlas, the team won more trophies than any other team in South Africa.

In 2004, mining magnate Patrice Motsepe bought a 51% share in the club and later took total control of the club by buying the remaining shares, thus becoming the sole owner and shareholder of the club. Under their new owner, Sundowns picked up their first piece of silverware for six years in May 2006 when co-coaches Miguel Gamondi and Neil Tovey oversaw Sundowns' triumph in the PSL, the seventh league title in their history.

After a slow start to the 2006–07 season, Gamondi and Tovey were relieved of their positions, and Gordon Igesund took over as head coach. Under Igesund, Sundowns defended their title in emphatic style, running away with the trophy. They failed to win the 'double', losing to Ajax Cape Town in the 2007 ABSA Cup final.

After a stuttering start to the 2009–10 season, an impressive run through the second half of the season saw the club to second position in the final league standings. The club nevertheless parted ways with coach Hristo Stoichkov.

In the 2010–11 season, Antonio Lopez Habas, who was the assistant coach under Stoichkov, took over the reins of the senior team. Sundowns made its best ever start to a League season and topped the league standings at the end of the first round. The second round of the league proved more competitive and Sundowns were in the hunt for the league title until the second last match. Habas resigned in February, citing personal reasons and went back to Spain. Assistant coach Ian Gorowa was appointed as interim head coach.

In 2011 highly rated Dutch tactician Johan Neeskens was appointed as the coach of Sundowns in a bid to awaken the sleeping giant that hadn't won silverware since winning the 2008 Nedbank cup. The Dutch-born coach gave a number of young players from the development team opportunities to impress in the senior team. Even though the Dutch mentor made the team play free-flowing and an entertaining brand of football, his failure to capture silverware led to his demise. In 2012, under the leadership of Neeskens, the club lost the 2012 Nedbank final 2–1 to Tshwane rivals Supersport United. His coaching stint at Chloorkop was short-lived as the impatient and demanding Sundowns supporters exerted pressure to the management to sack him. When the team failed to win the 2012 Telkom Knockout final against Bloemfontein Celtic, Neeskens got sacked as the head coach of the Tshwane-based side as the team was also languishing in the relegation zone.

On 2 December 2012, Pitso Mosimane took over as head coach and under his leadership Mamelodi Sundowns won the 2013/2014, 2015/2016, 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 league titles. Mosimane oversaw the rise of Sundowns to win the CAF Champions League, which was the goal of owner Patrice Motsepe when he bought the club in 2004. In 2017, Sundowns became the first team in South Africa to win the CAF Super Cup by defeating TP Mazembe from the DRC.

On 4 March 2012, the team set a remarkable South African record in the Nedbank Cup when they beat Powerlines by a score of 24–0.^[1][2]

2016[]

Onyango

Arendse

Nthethe

Mbekile

Langerman

Dolly

Tau

Kekana ( C )

Mabunda

Laffor

Billiat

  Starting lineup for CAF Champions League 2016 Final, 1st leg

Sundowns were eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the 2016 CAF Champions League, but were placed back in the competition after Congolese team Vita Club were disqualified from the competition for fielding a suspended player.^[3] In their journey for gold, Sundowns opened their campaign with a annulled 2–0 win against Algeria's ES Setif courtesy of Mabunda and Khama Billiat goals.

Despite the disappointment of losing 3 points, that did not halt their performance. On 26 June 2016, they faced Nigeria club Enyimba International F.C. in the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. They defeated the Nigerians 2–1 with goals from Leonardo Castro and Wayne Arendse in the 42nd and 78th minutes, respectively. Their good form continued to Egypt, defeating Egyptian club Zamalek SC with a goal from Mabunda in the 17th minute, followed by an Ibrahim leveller in the 36th minute, prevailing with a 66th-minute goal from their star player Khama Billiat, which ended the match in favour of the Brazilians 2–1. They repeated this in the 2nd leg by beating the Egyptian club 1-0 with an own goal from Ali Gabr in the 79th minute. The win assured 'Downs a place in the semifinals, but they needed to end their group stage campaign on a high away against Enyimba. Playing with young players, 'Downs succumbed to their first defeat by 3–1 on a rainy slippery field.

In the semifinals, they faced Zambian team ZESCO United at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, where they lost to quick succession goals just a minute apart in the 54th and 56th minutes from Mwanza. Billiat netted a goal in the 86th minute to bring the score to 2–1, leaving 'Downs with much to do in the second leg. In the second leg, 'Downs did what was needed of them by winning the match 2–0, thanks to a goal from Liberian Anthony Laffor in the 5th minute and the young Percy Tau in the 64th minute. Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. reached the final of the competition for the first time since the 2001 CAF Champions League final (where they lost to Al Ahly SC). They also reached the 4th final for South African clubs (1 win and 2 losses).

In the final, they beat Egypt's Zamalek SC 3–1 on aggregate, claiming their first-ever continental title and becoming only the second South African team to be crowned champions of Africa.^[3]

Honours[]

National Titles[]

South African League titles (14)- Record:

• Premier Soccer League

Winners (11): 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21

Runners-up (3): 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016-17

• National Soccer League

Winners (3): 1988, 1989–90, 1992–93

Runners-up (2): 1990–91, 1994–95

Cup competitions[]

• Nedbank Cup

Winners (5): 1986, 1998, 2008, 2014–15, 2019–20

Runners-up (5): 1989, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011–12

• Telkom Knockout

Winners (4): 1990, 1999, 2015, 2019

Runners-up (4): 1997, 1998, 2007, 2012

• MTN 8

Winners (3): 1988, 1990, 2007

Runners-up (6): 1992, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2016

African Competitions[]

• CAF Champions League:

• CAF Super Cup:

Individual Awards[]

• African Club of the Year 2016
• South African team of the year 2016
• PSL team of the season 2015–16, 2013–14

Friendly cup competitions[]

Shell Helix Cup

Winners : 2018

Performance in CAF Competitions[]

NB: South African football clubs started participating in CAF Competitions in 1993, after 16 years of being banned from FIFA due to the apartheid system. The ban extended from 1976 to 1992.

• African Cup of Champions Clubs / CAF Champions League: 13 appearances

The club has 1 appearance in African Cup of Champions Clubs 1994 and 12 appearances in CAF Champions League from 1999 until now. It has also recorded the biggest victory in the CAF Champions League by defeating Seychelles side Cote d’Or, 11-1 at home and 16-1 on aggregate in the first round of the 2019-2020 season.^[4]

• CAF Confederation Cup: 4 appearances
• CAF Super Cup: 1 appearance

• CAF Cup: 2 appearances
• African Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance

Note

• DNQ - Did Not Qualify
• The CAF announced on 24 May 2016 that Mamelodi Sundowns won on walkover after AS Vita Club were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in their preliminary round tie against Mafunzo.Mamelodi Sundowns played in the Confederation Cup play-off round before they were reinstated to the Champions League.

Overall matches[]

As of 9 March 2020

CAF Association ranking for 2019/20[]

Legend

• CL: CAF Champions League
• CC: CAF Confederation Cup
•   Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup)

Rank	Association	2015 (× 1)		2016 (× 2)		2017 (× 3)		2018 (× 4)		2018–19 (× 5)		Total
		CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC
1	Tunisia	0	6	0	3	7	5	9	0	8	6	154
2	Morocco	2	0	4	4	6	3	5	7	5	7	153
3	Egypt	1	6	7	0	7	0.5	5	3	4	5	120.5
4	Algeria	8	0	0	4	4	2	5	2	5	1	92
5	DR Congo	6	0	0	5	1	5	3	4	5	0	87
6	South Africa	0	4	6	0	3	4.5	2	0	6	0	76.5

As of 13 January 2020

Club ranking[]

Club ranking is used for seeding in the CAF competitions.

Legend

•   Enter 2019–20 CAF Champions League
•   Enter 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup

Rank	Club	2015 (× 1)	2016 (× 2)	2017 (× 3)	2018 (× 4)	2018–19 (× 5)	Total
1	Espérance de Tunis	0.5	0	3	6	6	63.5
2	TP Mazembe	6	5	5	3	4	63
2	Wydad Casablanca	0	4	6	3	5	63
4	Al-Ahly	3	2	5	5	3	57
5	Étoile du Sahel	5	3	4	3	3	50
6	Mamelodi Sundowns	0	6	3	2	4	49

As of 13 January 2020

Performance in FIFA Club World Cup[]

• FIFA Club World Cup: 1 appearance

NB: Mamelodi Sundowns is the first football club from Southern Africa to represent CAF in FIFA Club World Cup, following their 2016 CAF Champions League success.

As of 18 December 2016

Club records[]

Records[]

Type	Nat	Name	Records
Most starts		Daniel Mudau	390
Most goals		Daniel Mudau	172
Most capped player		Katlego Mphela	32
Most starts in a season		Themba Mnguni	48 (1997–98)
Most goals in a season		Bennett Masinga	33 (1990)
Record victory		vs Powerlines FC	24–0 (4 March 2012, Nedbank Cup)
Inter-record victory		vs Al Ahly	5–0 (6 April 2019, )
Record defeat		vs Africa Sports	1–6 (4 November 2000, CAF Champions League)

Source:^[6]

Premier Soccer League record[]

• Orange = In progress
• Gold = Champions
• Silver = Runner up

As of 6 June 2021

Management and staff[]

Position	Nat.	Name
Owner/President
General Manager
Directors		Rejoice Simelane, Andrew Matube, Andre Wilkens, Sandile Langa
Executive: Legal & Commercial		Yogesh Singh
Supporter Mobilisation Manager		Alex Shakoane
Supporter Co-ordination Manager		Daniel Mudau
Finance Manager
Administration Manager		Belinda Ndlovu
Facilities & Projects Manager
Marketing & Special Projects Manager
Communications Co-ordinator		Mashupie Nkgadima
Supporters Assistant		Daisy Kgopa
Accountant		Jacob Molusi
HR and Administration		Boniface Motsepe
Receptionist		Tina Lesita

Technical team[]

Position	Nat	Name
Head of Technical Department		José Ramón Alexanko[7]
Joint Head Coaches		Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena
Senior Coach		Steve Komphela
Sport Scientist		Vacant
Goalkeeper Coach		Wendell Robinson
Head of Youth Development		Sam Mbatha

Source:^[8]

Players[]

As of 2 November 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ZAM Kennedy Mweene 3 DF  BRA Ricardo Nascimento 4 DF  RSA Tebogo Langerman 5 DF  RSA Mosa Lebusa 6 DF  KEN Brian Onyango 7 MF  RSA Lyle Lakay 8 MF  RSA Hlompho Kekana (captain) 9 FW  URU Mauricio Affonso 10 FW  URU Gastón Sirino 11 FW  RSA Kermit Erasmus 12 MF  RSA George Maluleka 13 MF  RSA Tiyani Mabunda 14 GK  UGA Denis Onyango 15 MF  RSA Andile Jali 18 MF  RSA Themba Zwane 19 MF  RSA Gift Motupa 20 GK  RSA Ricardo Goss 21 MF  RSA Sphelele Mkhulise

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 FW  RSA Lesedi Kapinga 23 MF  RSA Haashim Domingo 24 MF  RSA Sibusiso Vilakazi 25 DF  RSA Khuliso Mudau 26 MF  RSA Keletso Makgalwa 27 DF  RSA Thapelo Morena 28 DF  RSA Rushine De Reuck 29 DF  CIV Soumahoro Bangaly 30 GK  RSA Reyaad Pieterse 31 MF  RSA Grant Margeman 33 FW  RSA Lebohang Maboe 36 FW  RSA Promise Mkhuma 38 FW  NAM Peter Shalulile 37 MF  RSA Aubrey Modiba 40 DF  RSA Rivaldo Coetzee 41 MF  RSA Mothobi Mvala — GK  RSA Khulekani Kubheka

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer[]

showKit suppliers
Dates	Supplier
1990–1994	Adidas
1994–1996	Puma SE
2004–2008	Diadora
2008–2016	Nike
2016–Present	Puma SE

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Premier Soccer League
• PSL Club Info
• South African Football Association
• Confederation of African Football