Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mamelodi Sundowns

Full name	Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club
Nickname(s)	Bafana ba Style Masandawana Ka bo Yellow Shoe Shine and Piano The Brazilians
Short name	Sundowns SUN MSD
Founded	1970; 55 years ago (1970)
Ground	Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Ground Capacity	51,762
Owner	Patrice Motsepe
Chairman	Tlhopie Motsepe
Head coach	Manqoba Mngqithi
League	Betway Premiership
2023–24	1st (champions)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Active departments of Mamelodi Sundowns
Football (Men's)	Football B (Men's)
Football (Women's)	Football B (Women's)

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, often called Sundowns, is a professional football team from South Africa. They are based in Mamelodi, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province. The club plays in the Premier Soccer League, which is the top football league in South Africa.

Sundowns was started in the 1970s. Their home games are played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. They are the most successful football club in South Africa's PSL era.

The team won the 2016 CAF Champions League in 2016 and the 2017 CAF Super Cup in 2017. They were also named the CAF Club of the Year in 2016. At home, they have won the Nedbank Cup six times, the MTN 8 four times, and the Telkom Knockout four times.

Mamelodi Sundowns was the first South African team to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. In 2021, they became the first club in Africa to win both the men's CAF Champions League and the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League titles. In 2023, Sundowns won the first-ever 2023 African Football League.

The club is owned by Patrice Motsepe, a South African business leader. Sundowns is known for its special attacking style of play. It's called "Shoe Shine & Piano" because it involves quick, short passes on the ground. This style is similar to the Spanish "Tiki-taka" and "Total Football."

History of Mamelodi Sundowns

How it All Started: 1964–1970

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club began in the early 1960s. It was formed by young people in Marabastad, an area near Pretoria. Some of the first players included Frank "ABC" Motsepe and Ingle Singh. The team was first called Marabastad Sundowns. This name came from an older amateur club from the 1940s.

In 1969, Ingle "Jinx" Singh, one of the founders, sold the club. The new owners were Dr. Bonny Sebotsane, Dr. Motsiri Itsweng, and Joseph Ntshimane "Fish" Kekana. In 1970, the club moved to the nearby township of Mamelodi. It was then officially renamed Mamelodi Sundowns.

The "Mr Cool" Years: 1970–1988

Sundowns joined the Federation Professional Football League in 1973. That same year, they reached the Coca-Cola Cup final but lost. In 1978, Sundowns was moved to the second division. They worked hard for five years to get back into the top league, which they did in 1983.

In 1985, Zola Mahobe became the new owner of Sundowns. He saved the club from being disbanded. South African football also became non-racial that year. The National Soccer League was formed, and Sundowns was part of it.

Under Zola Mahobe, Sundowns started to become a top team. He spent a lot of money to bring in the best South African players. He also changed the team's kit to look like the Brazilian national team's kit. This is how they got their famous nickname, "the Brazilians."

Mahobe hired Stanley "Screamer" Tshabalala as coach. Under him, Sundowns played an exciting style of football. It became known as "The Shoe Shine and Piano." In 1986, the club won the Mainstay Cup. Goalkeeper Mark Anderson was named Footballer of the Year.

In 1988, Sundowns won two more trophies: the BP Top Eight Cup and the Ohlsson's Challenge Cup. Later that year, Standard Bank took over the club from Zola Mahobe. The football family Angelo and Natasha Tsichlas, along with Abe Krok, then bought the club and saved it.

First Championship and New Leaders: 1988–1995

Chilean coach Mario Tuane and Angelo Tsichlas took over the team. They led Sundowns to win their first league championship in 1988. After Tuane left, Angelo Tsichlas and then Trott Moloto and Stan Lapot coached the team.

Stan Tshabalala returned as coach in 1990. Sundowns had a great season, losing only two league games. They won their first "treble" by winning the Top Eight Cup and the JPS Knockout Cup. They beat Orlando Pirates 2–1 in the final.

The next year, 1991, was tough. The team finished second in the league and didn't reach any cup finals. In 1992, under Augusto Palacios, Sundowns lost two cup finals to rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Jeff Butler became coach in 1993. He led the club to win their third league title. Sundowns also played in a continental tournament for the first time in 1994. This was the African Cup of Champions Clubs.

The Ted Dimitru Era and PSL Success: 1995–2004

The National Soccer League was replaced by the Premier Soccer League in the 1996–97 season. After a few coaching changes, Sundowns signed Raphael Chukwu and hired Ted Dumitru as head coach in 1997. Raphael and Daniel Mudau became a strong scoring duo.

With a great team including Joel Masilela and Alex Bapela, Sundowns won three league titles in a row from 1998 to 2000. They also won the Bob Save Super Bowl in 1998 and the Rothmans Cup in 1999.

In 2001, Sundowns focused on winning in Africa. They became only the second South African team to reach the final of the important CAF Champions League. They lost to Egyptian club Al Ahly 4–1 over two games. After this, the club went through a period of rebuilding.

Patrice Motsepe Takes Over: 2004-Present

In 2004, mining leader Patrice Motsepe bought 51% of the club. Later, he bought all the remaining shares, becoming the sole owner. Under his leadership, Sundowns won their first trophy in six years in May 2006. Coaches Miguel Gamondi and Neil Tovey led them to win the PSL league title.

In the 2006–07 season, Gordon Igesund became head coach. Sundowns successfully defended their league title, winning it again.

In 2011, Johan Neeskens, a Dutch coach, was appointed. He gave young players a chance in the main team. Even though his team played exciting football, they didn't win any trophies. This led to him being sacked. On March 4, 2012, Sundowns set a South African record in the Nedbank Cup. They beat Powerlines by an amazing score of 24–0.

The Pitso Mosimane Era: 2012–2019

On December 2, 2012, Pitso Mosimane became the new head coach. He guided Sundowns to a 9th-place finish in his first season. The 2013/14 season started well with a 6-game unbeaten run. This included a huge 7-1 win against AmaZulu F.C.

On March 9, 2014, Sundowns started an 11-game unbeaten streak. This led to them winning the league title after six years without a trophy. Players like Khama Billiat, Keagan Dolly, and Leonardo Castro joined the team. They formed a strong attacking force.

The team finished second in the league in 2014. However, they won both the Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout. This started a period where Sundowns dominated the league. They won the league titles in 2015/2016, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, and 2019/2020. The 2015/16 season was record-breaking. Sundowns became the first team to get over 70 points in the league.

Winning the CAF Champions League in 2016

In 2017, Coach Mosimane led Sundowns to win their first CAF Champions League title. This was a big goal for owner Patrice Motsepe. Sundowns had been knocked out of the 2016 CAF Champions League early. But they were put back into the competition. This happened because the Congolese team Vita Club was disqualified.

On June 26, 2016, they played Nigeria's Enyimba International F.C. at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Sundowns won 2–1. They then beat Egyptian club Zamalek SC 2–1 away from home. In the second game, they won 1–0. These wins secured their spot in the semifinals.

In the semifinals, they faced Zambian team ZESCO United. They lost the first game 2–1. But in the second game, Sundowns won 2–0. This meant they reached the final of the competition. It was their first final since 2001.

In the final, they beat Egypt's Zamalek SC 3–1 over two games. This was their first-ever continental title. They became only the second South African team to be champions of Africa.

Onyango

Arendse

Nthethe

Mbekile

Langerman

Dolly

Tau

Kekana (C)

Mabunda

Laffor

Billiat

Starting lineup for CAF Champions League 2016 Final, 1st leg

Sundowns went on to win the 2017 CAF Super Cup in 2017. They beat TP Mazembe from the DRC. In the 2018/19 season, the club won a domestic treble. This included the league, Telkom Knockout, and Nedbank Cup.

New Coaches and Continued Success: 2020-Present

In 2020, the coaching team changed after Pitso Mosimane left. Former assistant coaches Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi became joint Head Coaches. Steve Komphela also joined as a senior coach.

This new coaching team led the club to a successful season. New players like Peter Shalulile and Neo Maema became stars. The club won its fifth league title in a row and the Nedbank Cup. This showed the club was still doing very well. The 2021/22 season was another record-breaking league win.

Honours

Type	Competition	Titles	Seasons
Domestic	Premier Soccer League / National Soccer League	17	Winners (17): 1988, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 Runners-up (5): 1990–91, 1994–95, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17
	Bob Save Superbowl/Nedbank Cup	6	Winners (6): 1986, 1998, 2008, 2014–15, 2019–20, 2021–22 Runners-up (7): 1989, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011–12 [2023]
	Telkom Knockout	4	Winners (4): 1990, 1999, 2015, 2019 Runners-up (5): 1997, 1998, 2007, [[2012 Telkom Knockout|2012] [2024]
	MTN 8	4	Winners (4): 1988, 1990, 2007, 2021 Runners-up (7): 1992, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2016, 2023
African	CAF Champions League	1	Winners (1): 2016 Runners-up (1): 2001
	CAF Super Cup	1	Winners (1): 2017
	African Football League	1	Winners (1): 2023

•      Record
• ^S Shared record

Awards

• African Club of the Year 2016
• South African team of the year 2016
• PSL team of the season 2015–16, 2013–14

Friendly Cup Competitions

Shell Helix Cup Winners : 2018

Telkom Charity Cup

• Winners(5) : 1991, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006

Carling Black Label Cup

• Winners: 2022

Ohlsson's Challenge Cup

• Winners : 1988

Performance in African Competitions

South African football clubs started playing in CAF Competitions in 1993. This was after a 16-year ban from FIFA due to the apartheid system. The ban lasted from 1976 to 1992.

CAF Champions League Appearances

Mamelodi Sundowns has played in the African Cup of Champions Clubs once (1994). They have also played in the CAF Champions League 16 times since 1999. They hold the record for the biggest victory in the CAF Champions League. They beat Côte d’Or from Seychelles 11–1 at home. The total score was 16–1 over two games in the 2019–2020 season.

Other CAF Competitions

Sundowns has played in the CAF Confederation Cup 4 times and the CAF Super Cup once. They have also appeared in the CAF Cup twice and the African Cup Winners' Cup once.

Note

• DNQ – Did not qualify (meaning they didn't play in that competition)
• In 2016, CAF announced that Mamelodi Sundowns won by walkover. This happened after AS Vita Club was disqualified for using a player who was not allowed to play. Sundowns was then put back into the Champions League.

Overall Matches in CAF Competitions

Club Ranking in Africa

Club rankings are used to decide which teams get better starting positions in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. Teams with more points from recent seasons are ranked higher. The ranking for the 2024–25 season is based on results from 2019–20 to 2023–24.

Rank	Club	2019–20 (× 1)	2020–21 (× 2)	2021–22<br(× 3)	2022–23 (× 4)	2023–24 (× 5)	Total
1	Al Ahly	6	6	5	6	6	87
2	Espérance de Tunis	3	4	3	4	5	61
3	Wydad	4	4	6	5	2	60
4	Mamelodi Sundowns	3	3	3	4	4	54

Performance in FIFA Club World Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns was the first football club from Southern Africa to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. They qualified after winning the 2016 CAF Champions League. Sundowns is also set to play in another tournament in the United States in 2025.

Club Records

Type	Nat	Name	Record
Most trophies won – Player		Kennedy Mweene	12
Most Trophies Won – Coach		Pitso Mosimane	11
Most starts		Daniel Mudau	390
Most goals		Daniel Mudau	172
Most capped player		Katlego Mphela	32
Most starts in a season		Themba Mnguni	48 (1997–98)
Most goals in a season		Bennett Masinga	33 (1990)
Record victory		vs Powerlines	24–0 (4 March 2012, Nedbank Cup)
Inter-record victory		vs Al Ahly	5–0 (6 April 2019, CAF Champions League)
Record defeat		vs Africa Sports	1–6 (4 November 2000, CAF Champions League)

Premiership Record

• Orange = In progress
• Gold = Champions
• Silver = Runner up

Players

No. Position Player 1 GK Denis Onyango 3 FW Thembinkosi Lorch 4 MF Teboho Mokoena 5 DF Mosa Lebusa 6 MF Aubrey Modiba 7 MF Lesiba Nku 8 MF Erwin Saavedra 9 FW Arthur Sales 10 FW Lucas Ribeiro Costa 11 MF Marcelo Allende 12 MF Neo Maema 13 FW Iqraam Rayners 14 MF Terrence Mashego 15 MF Bathusi Aubaas 17 FW Tashreeq Matthews 18 MF Themba Zwane 19 FW Kobamelo Kodisang 20 DF Grant Kekana

No. Position Player 21 MF Sphelele Mkhulise 23 DF Rushine De Reuck 24 MF Sipho Mbule 25 DF Khuliso Mudau 26 GK Reyaad Pieterse 27 DF Thapelo Morena 30 GK Ronwen Williams (captain) 33 FW Thapelo Maseko 34 MF Mothobi Mvala 36 GK Jody February 37 DF Kegan Johannes 38 FW Peter Shalulile 39 MF Lebohang Maboe 40 DF Rivaldo Coetzee 42 DF Malibongwe Khoza 43 FW Kutlwano Lethlaku 48 DF Asekho Tiwani 50 GK Sanele Tshabalala

Out on Loan

No. Position Player MF Matías Esquivel (at Talleres until 30 June 2025)

Shirt Sponsor & Kit Manufacturer

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor	Sleeve sponsor
1996–2002	Adidas
1994–1996	Puma
2002–2008	Diadora
2008–2016	Nike	Ubuntu-Botho Investments
2016–present	Puma		Hyundai

Images for kids

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  Headquarters of Mamelodi Sundowns FC in Chloorkop in Pretoria.

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  Mamelodi Sundowns FC in a friendly game against Go Ahead Eagles in 2023.