Chairman’s Letter

THE CHAIRMAN'S

LETTER

Photos: Sundowns Media

I would like to dedicate this letter to our former Club Chairman, Mr Angelo Tsichlas, who tragically passed away on June 24th in an unfortunate car accident. Angelo was a passionate leader and a warm and generous man. And his legacy at Mamelodi Sundowns will live on through the lives he touched, the trophies he won, and the memories he helped make. May his soul Rest In Peace.

DEAR MASANDAWANA,

Welcome to a very special and historic edition of the Mamelodi Sundowns Magazine. On behalf of everyone at the club, it is our great pleasure to present the FIFA Club World Cup edition to you today.

From as far back as the 1980s, when our former Chairman Zola Mahobe took a group of young South African footballers who played for Mamelodi Sundowns to watch the FA Cup final in Wembley (and as legend goes, Sundowns played an unofficial friendly with Crystal Palace), to 2014 when our current President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, brought FC Barcelona to South Africa in honour of Nelson Mandela — Mamelodi Sundowns has always strived to connect African football with the world.

This global vision dates back to our club’s creation, when our founding fathers decided to adopt our yellow and green club colours in honour of the iconic Brazilian national team of the 70’s. Furthermore, our famous football philosophy —Shoe Shine and Piano — is a cross cultural blend of South African flair and European influences. Our signature style of soccer originated after our former Coach, Screamer Tshabalala, went to Italy and was inspired after watching the big Italian clubs play calm and composed carpet football. Screamer then decided to bring elements of the Italian game into our own Mamelodi Sundowns football; and what resulted was the creation of something truly special. Thus, from the beginning, we have been a proudly African club with global influences and international dreams.

In 2025, that dream became reality when Mamelodi Sundowns arrived in the United States to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup. After nearly a decade of striving to return to this stage since our last appearance in 2016, we finally earned the right to share our football, our culture, and our identity with the world again. Placed in Group F alongside South Korea’s Ulsan HD, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, and Brazil’s Fluminense, our journey was filled with pride, passion, and 3 powerful lessons.

Watching our team line up on the along the halfway line of the Inter & Co stadium for our first match of the tournament was an incredibly proud moment for everyone connected to the club. The Club World Cup anthem echoed across the stadium while our flag stood beside that of South Korea — two nations united through football. After nine years of sacrifice, setbacks, and unwavering commitment,
Mamelodi Sundowns had finally made it back to the Club World Cup stage. Before the players broke out into their positions across the pitch, they paused and raised their fingers in the traditional Mamelodi Sundowns symbol to salute the supporters. And in that moment, the first lesson was clear:
Persistence Pays Off.

That first match brought us our first ever Club World Cup victory — a historic achievement for everyone connected to the yellow nation. Congratulations to our Iqraam Rayners for scoring the winning goal and earning the “Superior Player of the Match” award. Further congratulations must be given to the coach, technical team, and players for making it possible.

Our second match against Borussia Dortmund was framed as a true test of our credentials. After 60 minutes, the scoreboard read 4-1 in favour of the German giants. But that scoreline didn’t tell the full story. We had started the match with intensity and confidence. Lucas Ribeiro opened the scoring with a stunning solo goal — one that would later be voted VISA Goal of the Tournament. Dortmund
responded with four goals of their own- but what came next defined our tournament.

Instead of retreating to avoid embarrassment, we stayed true to our attacking style. Coach Miguel Cardoso urged the team forward. Two more goals followed from Rayners and Lebo Mothiba, and although we lost 4-3, the footballing world took notice. Analysts and fans praised our bravery and beauty. As one global anchor said, "Mamelodi Sundowns may have lost the game, but they won our
hearts."

From this game, we learned a second lesson: We didn’t change for the world — and the world loved us for it. In football and in life, the pressure to adapt to fit in is strong. But staying true to who we are — African, expressive, ambitious — became our greatest strength. We should all be proud of what makes us different.

Our final group match against Fluminense — dubbed "The Battle of the Brazilians" — was our last chance to reach the knockout stages. We needed a win; they needed only a draw; and from the first whistle to the last, our players gave everything. Facing legends like Thiago Silva, we showed our quality and determination; however, the match ended 0-0 and our journey in the tournament ended.

In the changeroom, silence and disappointment filled the air. The scoreboard said that we had failed. But outside that room, something remarkable had happened. Supporters in the stadium, and all over social media were celebrating us. We received praise from around the world — even Arsène Wenger himself shared kind words and insight on our team. It was only once I had returned to South Africa
and reflected on our campaign, that I discovered the third lesson. That was when we discovered our third lesson from the Club World Cup: Sometimes you win in ways the scoreboard can’t show.

The scoreboard couldn’t capture the unifying sight of local American fans dancing the Haka Matorokisi with South Africans. It couldn’t show the joy we brought to 50 underprivileged youngsters at the football clinic that we hosted in Florida (Fort Lauderdale) with our partners from Roc Nation Sports International. The scoreboard couldn’t show the goodwill, the excitement, or the way we connected with the world. And most importantly, it couldn’t show how much we had grown as a team.

Yes, we were disappointed not to progress to the next stage. But we left with something bigger: the footballing world’s respect. Which is a victory some never achieve.

As we close the chapter on the 2025 Club World Cup, I want to thank the previous players and coaches that played a role in our qualification, I want to thank the Mamelodi Sundowns administration who worked incredibly well to ensure the tournament was problem free. But most of all, I want to thank our President and the Board for making it possible for some lucky supporters to travel to the USA and cheer for us. It wasn’t easy knowing we couldn’t take all our fans with, but it
speaks volumes that our leadership wanted to share this journey with the Yellow Nation. And next time, we will bring even more supporters!

Now, a new season is upon us; and while every season brings new opportunities, this will be different. This season, we will have to answer a question: what kind of club do we want to be? Our players and coaches showed that we can compete with the world’s best. But can we, the supporters, show that we are ready to walk that journey with them?

Can we show up in numbers to Mamelodi Sundowns games? Can we lift our team when hope fades? Can we dominate away stands and turn every stadium into a display of yellow dominance? Big clubs are not defined only by silverware — but by the size, passion, and consistency of their supporters. This season- we need you more than ever. A re yeng Masandawana, our team needs us!

In closing, we bid farewell to players who are moving on, especially Lebo Maboe and Rivaldo Coetzee — thank you for your unforgettable contributions. We also welcome our new partners: Biogen, Huawei, Carling Black Label and Chery. We are excited to build with you.

We should never overlook what this Club achieved on the global stage. And we will never forget how this tournament changed us. The world now knows of Mamelodi Sundowns, of Shoe Shine and Piano, and of the promise of African football.

Now, we must honour that promise. We must return. And next time, we rise even higher

The Sky is the Limit!

Tlhopie Motsepe
(Chairman)

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