Sundowns Shine: Six Seasons of Securing the League Title

SUNDOWNS SHINE:

SIX SEASONS
OF SECURING
THE TITLE

DSTV Premiership Champions

Author: John Aliu

After braving 48 nerve-wracking games, soaked in sweat, spirit and a sublime passion for the beautiful game, Mamelodi Sundowns have gracefully drawn the curtain on their 2022/2023 season. This enthralling roller-coaster of a season was echoed with spectacular triumphs and rigorous trials which provided invaluable lessons.

By clinching their 13th Premier Soccer League (PSL) title, Bafana Ba Style didn’t just raise the bar — they catapulted it into the stratosphere. This latest feat solidifies them as the first team to clinch the league title in six consecutive PSL seasons, a glittering achievement in their already illustrious history.

Remarkably, the Chloorkop-side claimed the league with seven games to spare, marking the earliest a league title has been secured in Mzansi! This accomplishment stands as a testament to the club’s relentless tenacity and insatiable hunger for success.

Under the strategic leadership of Coach Rhulani Mokwena, a galaxy of virtuosos emerged throughout the season, each contributing their unique brilliance in the quest for the sixth PSL title. From Teboho Mokoena’s finesse and the youthful tenacity of Cassius Mailula to Ronwen Williams’ stellar shot-stopping prowess and Khuliso Mudau’s no-nonsense defending — these are just a few maestros that gracefully struck the right chords when it mattered.

Unsurprisingly, these shining stars, along with their astute tactician Mokwena, were fittingly big winners at the PSL end-of-the-season Awards, a rightful acknowledgment of their pivotal roles for the team.

Coach Rulani Mokwena celebrates with the players after winning the DStv Premiership

Williams, who broke Moeneeb Josephs’s long-standing record of 17 clean sheets in the league with 18 shutouts, summed up his first season at Chloorkop.

“My first year at the club has been filled with incredible successes, but the one that truly stands out the most is breaking the clean sheet record. It is an incredible personal achievement to be honoured with the Goalkeeper of the Season Award. However, I am fully aware that this accomplishment was not achieved in isolation; we accomplished all these records as a collective effort. Congratulations to everyone within the team who also won awards,” said Ronwen.

Peter Shalulile celebrates a goal with teammates

Still unbeaten in 20 league games as Bafana Ba Style head coach, Rulani, who scooped the Coach of the Season crown, showered praise on his troops and expressed his belief in the team’s abundant quality.

“These awards are a testament to the exceptional commitment displayed by the spine of our team. The unwavering dedication and hard work of our players have undoubtedly paid off, and we take great pride in their achievements. As we continue our journey, we remain focused on continual improvement in all aspects of our game. From tactical strategies to conditioning and physical abilities, we relentlessly seek ways to raise the bar and reach even greater heights,” Coach Rulani stated.

Sundowns players celebrating with fans

While Masandawana basks in the glory of this past season’s feats, there were sombre moments when the melody dipped. The cruel sting of the away goals rule in their clash against Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club in the CAF Champions League semi-finals, the stumble in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals against Stellenbosch and the semi-final exit at the hands of eventual MTN8 champions Orlando Pirates serve as stark reminders of the hurdles encountered. However, the Pretoria-based team has accepted these setbacks with unwavering resolve, already strategising to rectify these shortcomings next season.

To the Yellow Nation Family, whose faith has been the club’s guiding beacon, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your steadfast support has been the North Star in our journey, illuminating our path through stormy times and guiding us towards uncharted territories of league success. Your encouragement has fortified us, your cheers have uplifted us and your faith has emboldened us.

As the dust settles on another season, one thing remains eternally clear: Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club will aim to go again next season with a renewed sense of purpose. Armed with the lessons of the past season and optimism for the future, the Brazilians are revving up to vie for continental domination next year and reclaim their rightful place at the zenith of African football.

Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates winning the 2022 Carling Black Label Cup for the first time

STATS SUMMARY FROM THE

2022/2023 SEASON

Here are a few statistics from our league-extending sixth title:

:: 7 ::

Sundowns won all seven of their matches in all competitions in January 2023, the most wins by a team in a single month in PSL history.

:: 7 ::

Sundowns won the title with seven games still left to play, the earliest title victory in terms of remaining matches in PSL history.

:: 11 ::

Sundowns won 11 straight home league games this season, a new PSL record, eclipsing the 10-game run held by Paul Dolezar’s Sundowns in 1999.

:: 12 ::

Sundowns became the first team in PSL history to win as many as 12 games at the halfway stage of a 16-team PSL season.

:: 15 ::

Between 7 September 2022 and 4 Feb 2023, Sundowns won 15 straight league games, setting a new record for consecutive league wins by a PSL top-flight team (15).

:: 17 ::

At home to Wydad, Themba Zwane scored his 17th goal altogether in CAF competitions, the most of any PSL player in history.

:: 18 ::

Ronwen Williams kept 18 clean sheets for Sundowns in the league this season, a new record for a goalkeeper in a single PSL campaign.

:: 23 ::

Sundowns (Matchday 7 to Matchday 30) set a new record for the longest unbeaten league run within a single PSL season.

:: 24 ::

Marcelo Allende’s strike against Stellenbosch in August ensured that he became the 24th player of different nationalities to score for the club in the PSL and the first Chilean to score a league goal for Sundowns.

:: 38 ::

In the end, Sundowns won 38 points at home (P15 W12 D2 L1), equalling the PSL record for a 16-team campaign (from 2002/3 onwards).

:: 50 ::

Victory against Sekhukhune United in late January ensured that Sundowns became the fastest team to reach the 50-point mark in the PSL.

:: 98 ::

Peter Shalulile’s second goal for Sundowns in their final game of the season was their 98th of the season across all competitions, equalling a record for goals scored by a PSL club (also 1998/99 Kaizer Chiefs, 1999/00 Sundowns and 2021/22 Sundowns).

:: 100 ::

In their 100th match in charge at Sundowns, Coach Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi earned their 63rd win against SuperSport (MTN8 semifinal), marking the highest win rate of any Sundowns coach in their first 100 games across all competitions.

:: 100 ::

Peter Shalulile’s second goal against Algeria’s CR Belouizdad took him to 100 top-flight goals for PSL clubs (27 at Highlands Park plus 73 at Sundowns, all comps), becoming the 7th player to reach 100 goals in PSL history.

:: 1500 ::

Following their 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows in September, Sundowns reached a significant milestone by earning their 1500th point in the PSL (after 812 games), becoming the first top-flight side to reach this total.

Coach Rulani Mokwena

PSL END-OF-SEASON

AWARDS

DStv PREMIERSHIP

COACH OF THE SEASON:

Rulani Mokwena

PSL

FOOTBALLER OF THE SEASON:

Teboho Mokoena

DStv PREMIERSHIP

MIDFIELDER OF THE SEASON:

Teboho Mokoena

DStv PREMIERSHIP

GOALKEEPER OF THE SEASON:

Ronwen Williams

DStv PREMIERSHIP

DEFENDER OF THE SEASON:

Khuliso Mudau

DStv PREMIERSHIP

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON:

Cassius Mailula

PSL

CHAIRPERSON'S AWARD:

The late Alex ‘Goldfinger’ Shakoane

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