Sundowns eye Betway Prem top spot with Magesi win

Mamelodi Sundowns have set their sights on the Betway Premiership's top spot as they prepare to host Magesi FC at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Masandawana bounced back to winning ways when they emerged as 1-0 winners over Stellenbosch FC away on August 30 and they remain undefeated in the league this term, having registered three wins and two draws.

Sundowns are presently occupying the third spot in the Betway Premiership standings - two points behind leaders Sekhukhune United and a win over Magesi would propel the Tshwane giants to the top of the table, as this will be the only league game this weekend.

Magesi, on the other hand, remain winless in the current season following their 1-1 stalemate with AmaZulu FC at home on August 30 and it was their third draw this term, having also recorded two defeats from five league matches.

Dikwena Tsa Meetse find themselves placed 14th in the Betway Premiership standings - four points behind eigth-placed Marumo Gallants and a win over Sundowns would elevate the Limpopo outfit on the table as they move closer to the top-half teams.

TEAM NEWS

Sundowns have been boosted by the return of Themba Zwane and Khuliso Mudau to training with their teammates, but the league champions will be without Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who recently shared his farewell message to the club.

Meanwhile, Magesi will be boosted by the availability of Lehlohonolo Mtshali as the former Orlando Pirates academy player completed his two-match suspension just before the recent Fifa international break.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Mamelodi Sundowns striker Lebo Mothiba

“During this international break, we worked really hard and had good training sessions with the coaches and players that stayed behind. Now we have a game on Sunday against Magesi FC and the players who went to the national team will also join us,” Mothiba said.

“It’s not a tricky thing mentally, we’re all professionals and everyone here has experience. It’s a good thing that we’re playing them again now because we saw how they play. We’re ready for them because at training we’ve been working really hard and I feel like all the players are ready for Sunday’s game.

"I think we all know their style of play and we all know they are more direct with long balls and big strikers, so we’re prepared for anything.”

Magesi FC head coach John Maduka

“There’s so much we have to work on with the team, and we are happy that we’ve got enough time to do that. The boys are getting better and better. Remember, we had to change the way we play, Maduka said.

"They never used to play from the back, middle third to the final third. We’ve been trying to do that, and they are getting better and better. The usage of the ball has tremendously improved.

"So, in this [Fifa] break, it would help us to master that, but also master those movements in the final third to be able to finish when we’ve got those chances. We strongly believe that it’s going to help us going forward.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi Sundowns: The in-form Namibian hitman, who netted the winning goal against Stellenbosch before grabbing a hat-trick in Namibia's win over Sao Tome and Principe, also netted in Masandawana's 2-0 win over Magesi on August 20.

Wonderboy Makhubu, Magesi FC: The hard-working forward was one of Dikwena Tsa Metse's most influential players last season, even scoring against Sundowns in January this year and he has grabbed an assist in the current campaign.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2024/25 Magesi 1-2 Sundowns Makhubu; Ribeiro, Matthews

2024/25 Sundowns 2-0 Magesi Ribeiro 2

2025/26 Magesi 0-2 Sundowns Adams, Shalulile

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2024/25)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 1 1 0 0 2 0

Magesi 2 0 0 2 1 4

Away

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 2 2 0 0 4 1

Magesi 1 0 0 1 0 2

Total

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 3 3 0 0 6 1

Magesi 3 0 0 3 1 6