Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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Mamelodi Sundowns

Full name

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Brazilians,
The Sky is the Limit,
Downs

Founded

1970, as Sundowns in Pretoria

Ground

Loftus Stadium, Pretoria
(Capacity 51,762)

Chairman

Manager

League

ABSA Premier League, 1st





Home colours





Away colours

old logo

Mamelodi Sundowns are a South African football (soccer) club that participates in the country's Premier Soccer League. The club is owned by rand billionaire Patrice Motsepe which is the reason why it is often compared with English Premiership giants Chelsea. The club's nickname, The Brazilians, is a reference to their uniforms, which echo those of the Brazilian national team.

1 History
2 Notable players
3 Honours
4 Club records
- 4.1 Premier Soccer League record
5 2006/2007 season
6 Club officials/Technical team
7 2007/2008 First team squad
- 7.1 Foreigners
8 2007/2008 Transfers
9 Official sponsor
10 External links

Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club originated from Marabastad, a cosmopolitan area North West of the Pretoria CBD.

The club was originally formed in the early 1960s by a group of youngsters, among them were Frank Motsepe, Roy Fischer, Ingle Singh and Bernard Hartze, to mention but a few, and it became an official football club in 1970.

The club was affiliated to the Federation Professional Soccer League in 1973 and the same year reached the finals of the Coca Cola Cup where they played against Berea United and lost 5-3.

In 1978, the Federation Professional Soccer League threw their weight behind the then National Professional Soccer League. This meant the end of the Federation Professional Soccer League and the subsequent relegation of Sundowns to the second division.

For five years ‘Downs battled to gain promotion and during that period the Sundowns management resolved to disband the club but instead were approached by the late Boy Mafa who bought the franchise for R2000.00, a transaction facilitated by then lawyer, Dikgang Moseneke. This resulted in the club relocating to Mamelodi in the early 1980s.

In 1984 South African Football was the first sport to become non-racial and the National Soccer League was formed incorporating the top clubs in the country.

Sundowns earned promotion to the NSL in 1985 but in their first season in top-flight soccer, they found the going difficult until Zola Mahobe came on board and appointed Ben Segale as their coach.

In 1988, the ownership of the club fell in the hands of Standard Bank, which repossessed the club from Mr. Zola Mahobe. The Twin Pharmaceutical Group, owned by the Krok brothers, then bought the club from Standard Bank. During this time Nastasia Tsichlas and Angelo Tsichlas become co-owners of the club and under their leadership the club enjoyed most of its successes. They formed a unity within the team, which saw them win many titles and trophies. The Tsichlas's were also responsible for signing some very important players such as Roger Feutumba and Raphael Chukwu among others.

Sundowns enjoyed a golden period of success in the late 90s that saw them pick up three consecutive PSL titles (the PSL replaced the NSL at the start of the 1996/97 season) from 1998 to 2000 as well as being Bob Save Super Bowl winners in 1998 and Rothmans Cup winners in 1999.

The club reached the final of the 2001 CAF Champions League, their best performance in continental competition, where they were defeated 4-1 on aggregate by Egyptian club Al-Ahly.

In 2003, mining magnate Patrice Motsepe bought 51% shares in the club and in 2004 he took total control of the club by buying the remaining shares and thus became the sole owner and shareholder of the club.

Sundowns picked up their first piece of silverware for six years in May 2006 when co-coaches Miguel Gamondi and Neil Tovey oversaw Sundowns’ triumph in the PSL, the seventh league title in their history.

After a slow start to the 06/07 season, Gamondi and Tovey were relieved of their positions and Gordon Igesund took over as head coach. Under Igesund, Sundowns defended their title in emphatic style, running away with the trophy. They unfortunately failed to win the ‘double’ losing to Ajax Cape Town in the 2007 ABSA Cup final.

PSL League Champion: 5
1997/98, 98/99, 99/00, 05/06, 06/07
NSL League Champion: 3
1988, 90, 93
BobSave Super Bowl: 1
1998
Mainstay Cup: 1
1986
Rothmans Cup: 1
1999
JPS Cup: 1
1990
BP Top 8 Cup Winners titles: 2
1988, 90
Ohlsson's Challenge Cup: 1
1988
Charity Spectacular Winners titles: 4
1991, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
SAA Supa 8 Winners titles: 1
2007

Most starts: Daniel Mudau 390
Most goals: Daniel Mudau 172
Most capped player: Sizwe Motaung 24 (South Africa)
Most starts in a season: Themba Mnguni 48 (1997/98)
Most goals in a season: Bennett Masinga 33 (1990)
Record victory: 7-1 vs QwaQwa Stars (19/4/88, NSL);

vs Santos (16/8/98, PSL); vs Vaal Professionals (3/2/99, PSL)

Record defeat: 1-6 vs Africa Sports (4/11/00, CAF Champions League)

2006/2007 - 1st
2005/2006 - 1st
2004/2005 - 3rd
2003/2004 - 10th
2002/2003 - 10th
2001/2002 - 5th
2000/2001 - 3rd
1999/2000 - 1st
1998/1999 - 1st
1997/1998 - 1st
1996/1997 - 6th

Castle Premiership - winners
ABSA Cup - runners-up
Telkom Knockout - semifinals
SAA Supa 8 - semifinals
Telkom Charity Cup - winners

1. Surprise Moriri 11
2. Godfrey Sapula 9
3. Jose Torrealba 8
4. Lerato Chabangu 7
5. Peter Ndlovu 2
5. Josta Dladla 2
5. Benson Mhlongo 2

Player of the Year: Godfrey Sapula
Top Goalscorer of the Year: Surprise Moriri
Most Consistent Player of the Year: Esrom Nyandoro
Most Improved Player of the Year: Oscar Ntwagae
Most Committed Player of the Year: Benson Mhlongo
Role-Model Player of the Year: Michael Manzini
Most Outstanding Player of the Year: Jose Torrealba, Surprise Moriri
Excellent Performance and Professional Lifestyle on and off the Field: Calvin Marlin
Young Player of the Year: Lerato Chabangu

President: Patrice Motsepe
CEO: Belina Ndlovu
Team manager: Harris Chueu
Coach: Gordon Igesund
Assistant coach: Trott Moloto
Goalkeeper coach: Alejandro Heredia
Head of youth development: Cavin Johnson

As of September 16, 2007

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Calvin Marlin
3	MF	Esrom Nyandoro
4	DF	Oscar Ntwagae
5	MF	Mbulelo Mabizela
6	MF	Jorge Acuña
8	FW	Lerato Chabangu
9	MF	Josta Dladla
10	MF	Godfrey Sapula
11	MF	Manqoba Ngwenya
13	FW	Lungisani Ndlela
14	MF	Surprise Moriri
17	FW	Tyren Arendse
19	MF	Benson Mhlongo

No.	Position	Player
20	DF	Robyn Johannes
21	MF	Brent Carelse
23	FW	Peter Ndlovu
24	DF	Shere Lekgothoane
25	DF	Michael Manzini (Captain)
28	GK	Jackson Mabokgwane
29	MF	Dillon Sheppard
30	DF	Vuyo Mere
66	DF	David Kannemeyer
71	MF	Elias Ngwepe
89	FW	Patrick Apataki
91	GK	Brian Baloyi

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Players with foreign and South African citizenship do not count as foreigners.

In:
Jorge Acuña - Universidad de Chile, Chile

Reagan Noble (loan return) - Bloemfontein Celtic

Shere Lekgothoane - Jomo Cosmos

Out:
Clement Mazibuko - Thanda Royal Zulu

Neil Winstanley - Bidvest Wits

Christian Moudouthe-Bille - Black Leopards

Reagan Noble (on loan) - Ikapa Sporting

Mfiki Mthimkhulu - Ikapa Sporting

Themba Maringa - Pretoria University

v • d • e Mamelodi Sundowns – current squad
1 Marlin • 3 Nyandoro • 4 Ntwagae • 5 Mabizela • 6 Acuña • 8 Chabangu • 9 Dladla • 10 Sapula • 11 Ngwenya • 13 Ndlela • 14 Moriri • 17 Arendse • 19 Mhlongo • 20 Johannes • 21 Carelse • 23 Ndlovu • 24 Lekgothoane • 25 Manzini • 28 Mabokgwane • 29 Sheppard • 30 Mere • 66 Kannemeyer • 71 Ngwepe • 89 Apataki • 91 Baloyi • Manager: Igesund