Chairman’s letter

THE CHAIRMAN'S

LETTER

Photos: Sundowns Media

Ola Masandawana,

It is with great pride and passion that I reach out to you, the Sundowns Supporter. On Behalf of everyone at Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, welcome to another exciting season of football! We know that every season is a chance to do better, to reach higher and to go further- but in order to do all of this, we will need to dig deeper. I want to thank you for your support last season, however, if our team is to be the best in Africa, then we must also strive to be the best supporters in the land.

I must begin by acknowledging the profound loss that has touched not only our Club but also the world of football. We mourn the passing of two titans of the game: Johan Neeskens, Dutch football legend; and Stanley "Screamer" Tshabalala, who was the architect of Shoe Shine and Piano football and shaped the very philosophy of Mamelodi Sundowns. Both men inspired countless footballers and fans, bringing a vision, style, and passion that moved the masses. Their legacies are forever etched in the history of the beautiful game, and our thoughts and condolences go out to their families. We will always remember them for their lasting contributions to our Club and to football as a whole.

As we turn our attention to the new season, the energy is palpable. While we experienced early heartbreak in the MTN 8 Cup, falling out in the semifinals – over two matches, I am reminded of a powerful quote from Winston Churchill, who said “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." The Club has managed to transform that disappointment into drive, and the team has already begun to play with greater determination and focus. I believe that this is just the beginning, and the best is yet to come.

As we navigate through the first few games of the season, we must remind ourselves that there are many trophies still up for grabs- and the team needs your presence. The Carling Knockout Cup, the Nedbank Cup, the CAF Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup all present thrilling opportunities for glory. Winning these competitions requires our team's utmost effort- but also your unwavering support. We need the stadiums filled with your voices, your songs, and your energy. Together, we can propel our team to greater heights.

On the note of accomplishments, we must take a moment to celebrate two leaders in our team: Themba Zwane and Ronwen Williams. Themba Zwane was awarded his 50th cap for the South African National team and was given the honour of captaining the team in their game against Congo. Mshishi has long been a talisman for our football Club, and we celebrated his half century with the rest of the Nation. Sadly, he suffered an Achillies injury during the return leg whilst on National duty and will be sidelined for a few months. On behalf of the entire Yellow Nation, we wish Themba a positive recovery and send him our best wishes during this time. I am reminded of a C.S Lewis quote that says “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." We have a long season ahead of us and look forward to his return.

On a very positive note for our Club, the Country and the Continent; Bafana Bafana captain, Ronwen Williams has become the first South African to be nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'or Yashin Trophy. This remarkable achievement speaks to his dedication, talent, and the support system around him. This recognition is not just a testament to Ronwen’s brilliance, but also to his family, the coaches he has had along his career, his teammates, teachers, and everyone who has been part of his journey. We are incredibly proud that he was nominated among the top 10 goalkeepers in the world and believe that Ronwen has created a path for more South Africans to stand on the Ballon’dor Stage. I have no doubt that we will see more nominees from the Continent in the future, and ultimately, more winners too. The shot stopper has another opportunity to get an award in the CAF Awards 2024 after being shortlisted in three award categories, namely – CAF Interclub Player of the Year, Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the year. We wish him the best of luck and hope that all of these awards will be in Ronza’s safe hands on the 16th December 2024.

Our ladies' team, Banyana Ba Style, continue to make us proud on the international stage. Competing in the Women’s Cup this August in the USA, the CAF Women’s Champions League winners competed against some of the best teams in the world, including Atlético Madrid, Kansas City Current, and INAC Kobe Leonessa from Japan. While we aimed to bring the cup home, our performance was outstanding, and we owe a big thanks to our partners at Roc Nation for making this possible. Our ladies have shown once again that they are a force to be reckoned with, and their success only strengthens our belief in the future of women’s football at Sundowns. Let me take this opportunity to wish our Ladies Team the best of luck in their defence of The CAF Women’s Champions League 2024 which will be played in Morocco between 09-23 November 2024. We are hopeful that our Mamelodi Sundowns Heroines will continue to inspire millions of young footballers with their success on the pitch- and that this success inspires more businesses to invest in women’s sport too. Finally, it is very pleasing to see that the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Ladies will be joining Masandawana in Morocco as they make their debut on the Continental stage. This is a wonderful sign of the strides that women’s football is taking in our country! I would like to wish our fellow countrywomen all the best in the Champions League.

The Mamelodi Sundowns Membership Card Roadshow has been an incredible journey of connection with our special supporters. I want to thank our staff who engaged and interacted with Masandawana from different parts of our Country, as well as our ambassadors and players who brought their charisma to the roadshow. I had the pleasure of meeting our passionate supporters from the KwaZulu-Natal branches and we all look forward to visiting more supporters and branches in the future. The response has been amazing, and I encourage all of you to join this movement by grabbing your membership card and become a key player in your Club. This card will be your ticket to get closer to your team and will offer you exclusive access to content, discounts, meet-and-greets and so much more.

Exciting news awaits in November as we release our very first kit connected to a social cause. With the help of our friends at PUMA and an innovative collaboration with the Motsepe Foundation, Mamelodi Sundowns will debut our special white kit in honour of National Children’s Day. This jersey is a celebration of our children, therefore, whenever Bafana Ba Style play in the white kit, all children under the age of 10 years old will gain free access to the stadium as well as participate in a special surprise with their Mamelodi Sundowns heroes after the game. Furthermore, the Club has entered a special collaboration with the Motsepe Foundation that will see our players hand out toys and connect with kids as we try to make the festive period memorable for less fortunate children across the country. Everyone in the Club is so proud to be part of this initiative and we thank the hardworking men and women at the Motsepe Foundation for all they do to alleviate poverty across Africa.

Lastly, I am pleased to announce that the Mamelodi Sundowns Esport Championship is back! This year, Mamelodi Sundowns and our partners Mettlestate will travel across malls, universities, and townships, in search of the best EA FC players. The competition has kicked off, so be sure to stay updated through our social media channels. This tournament promises to be a thrilling addition to our footballing season, bringing even more ways to celebrate the beautiful game!

As I close, I want to leave you with this thought: "When people believe in a cause, they can achieve the impossible."

Our cause is Mamelodi Sundowns FC, and when we, as supporters and players, unite behind it, there are no limits to what we can accomplish! Your presence in the stadium, your songs, and your undying faith in our team is the fuel that drives our players towards glory. Together, let’s continue to inspire, to believe, and to push our beloved Club towards our greatest desire, the Champions League.

The Sky is the Limit!

Tlhopie Motsepe
(Chairman)

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