A-Z of Mamelodi Sundowns’ title-winning campaign

Mamelodi Sundowns completed another Betway Premiership title victory as they eased to an eighth domestic championship in a row in the 2024-25 campaign.

We take a look at the A-Z of their title triumph.

A – Lucas Ribeiro and Iqraam Rayners are credited with the most ASISSTS for the side in their 28 Betway Premiership games having produced nine each. Arthur Sales is next on the list with eight.

B – Sphelele Mkhulise was the player who sat on the BENCH the most times for Sundowns, doing so in 20 of their 28 games. He came on 10 times to go with six starts.

C - This year’s title-winning coach was Miguel CARDOSO in his first campaign in South African football. The Portuguese tactician joined the club in December.

D – Sundowns again had the best DEFENCE in the league with just 13 goals conceded in their 28 games. Sekhukhune United (4-2) and Orlando Pirates (1-2) were the only teams to score against them more than once in a game.

E – Sundowns have been league champions for the last EIGHT seasons in a row, a South African record. They have a record 18 titles overall.

F – Sundowns’ 65 goals FOR is a PSL record for a 30-game (in this instance 28-game) season. They smashed their own record of 56.

G – Sundowns set a new record for GOAL-DIFFERENCE in a PSL season with +52 in the current 2024-25 campaign. They had previously held the record with +41 last term.

H – Sundowns went undefeated at HOME with a PSL record 14 wins from 14 games in front of their own fans. No other team has had a 100 per cent record through the season.

I – Arthur Sales was the player INTRODUCED moist often in the campaign as a substitute, coming off the bench on 11 occasions. He made eight starts and 16 goal contributions (8 goals, 8 assists) in those 19 appearances.

J – Midfielder JAYDEN Adams was a January buy from Stellenbosch FC and although coach Miguel Cardoso seeme3d to have reservations about him at first, he played a huge part in their success in the second half of the season.

K – Young defender Malibongwe KHOZA made his debut in the 2024-25 season, making 15 starts to go with three sub appearances. That is quite the entrance to professional football for the 21-year-old.

L – LUCAS Ribeiro finished as Sundowns’ leading scorer in the Betway Premiership with 16 goals from 26 starts (and one sub appearance). He will win the overall league Golden Boot too, with his nearest challenger teammate Iqraam Rayners (14 goals from 23 starts and 3 sub appearances).

M – Forward Siyabonga MABENA was the youngest player to feature Sundowns in this campaign, and was just 17 when he turned out against Royal AM in October. Four days later he featured against Polokwane City, but injuries cut short his campaign.

N – NO team managed to score against Sundowns in their final six league games of the season as they won them all, netting 16 goals themselves and conceding none. They usually always finish the season strong.

O – Stalwart Sundowns goalkeeper Denis ONYANGO now has a record 12 league titles, nine of which have come with Sundowns. He has featured in 10 league games so far this season.

P – Sundowns hold the record for the most POINTS in a 30-game PSL season with 73, which they managed in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The latter was from just 28 games.

Q – Sundowns replaced coaches during the season when Manqoba Mngqithi left in December after QUESTIONS over his ability to lead the side.

R – Goalkeepers Ronwen Williams and Denis Onyango, and defender Divine Lunga all received RED CARDS for Sundowns in the league campaign.

S – Lucas Ribeiro made the most STARTS for the team this season with 26 in their 28 games. That is three more than Iqraam Rayners and Marcelo Allende, who are next on the list.

T – Sundowns embarked on a TEN-GAME winning streak at the end of the 2013-14 season that took them to the title and ended a seven-year wait for the trophy.

U – Sundowns came close to an UNDEFEATED campaign in 2023-24 when they lost only once on the final day of the season, btu this time were beaten three times by Polokwane City (0-1), TS Galaxy (0-1) and Orlando Pirates (1-2).

V – This year’s title VICTORY is an eight in a row for Sundowns, extending their own PSL record.

W – Sundowns set a new record for WINS in any PSL season with 24, beating the previous record of 23 they jointly held with Chiefs and Manning Rangers.

X – Tashreeq Matthews added an X-FACTOR to the Sundowns side this season with his play on the left wing. He got five goals and six assists in 10 starts and one sub appearance, essentially one goal-contribution per game.

Y – Defender Grant Kekana picked up the most YELLOW CARDS in the league season with six from his 19 starts.

Z – Stalwart playmaker Temba ZWANE missed much of the campaign with an Achilles injury. He managed only one start to go with six sub appearances, but remains a key man for Sundowns.