Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.

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Mamelodi Sundowns
Full name Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club
Nickname(s) The Brazilians, Bafana Bastyle, Downs
Founded 1970
Ground Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Ground Capacity 51,762
Owner Patrice Motsepe
Manager South Africa Pitso Mosimane
League ABSA Premiership
2012–13 ABSA Premiership, 10th
Home colours
Away colours
Old logo
Club's training grounds in Chloorkop, Ekurhuleni

Mamelodi Sundowns are a South African football (soccer) club based in Pretoria that plays in the Premier Soccer League.

Since the inception of the PSL in 1996 Sundowns have won the league title a record five times. Sundowns are owned by billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe. The club's nickname, The Brazilians, is a reference to their uniforms, which echo those of the Brazilian national team.

History

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 Reginald Hartze, Joey Lawrence 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 R10000.00, 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.

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 2006–07 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 failed to win the 'double' losing to Ajax Cape Town in the 2007 ABSA Cup final.

After a stuttering start to the 2009–10 season, an impressive run through the second half of the season saw the club to second position in the final league standings. The club nevertheless parted ways with coach Hristo Stoichkov.

In the 2010–2011 season, Antonio Lopez Habas, who was the assistant coach under Stoichkov, took over the reins of the senior team. Sundowns made its best ever start to a League season and topped the league standings at the end of the first round. The second round of the league proved more competitive and Sundowns were in the hunt for the league title until the second last match. Habas resigned in February citing personal reasons and went back to Spain. Assistant coach Ian Gorowa was appointed as interim head coach.

In 2011 Johan Neeskens was appointed coach of Sundowns.

On 4 March 2012, the team set a remarkable South African record in the Nedbank Cup when they beat Powerlines FC by 24 goals to nil.[1][2]

Notable former coaches

Notable former players

† = deceased

Honours

  • Premier Soccer League: 5
    1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2005/06, 2006/07
  • National Soccer League: 3
    1988, 1990, 1993
  • Mainstay Cup: 1
    1986
  • Rothmans Cup: 1
    1999
  • JPS Cup: 1
    1990
  • BP Top 8 Cup Winners: 2
    1988, 1990
  • Ohlsson's Challenge Cup: 1
    1988
  • Charity Spectacular Winners: 4
    1991, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
  • SAA Supa 8 Winners: 1
    2007
  • Nedbank Cup Winners: 2
    1998, 2008

Club records

Source:[3]

Premier Soccer League record

  • 1996/1997 – 6th
  • 1997/1998 – 1st
  • 1998/1999 – 1st
  • 1999/2000 – 1st
  • 2000/2001 – 3rd
  • 2001/2002 – 5th
  • 2002/2003 – 10th
  • 2003/2004 – 10th
  • 2004/2005 – 3rd
  • 2005/2006 – 1st
  • 2006/2007 – 1st
  • 2007/2008 – 4th
  • 2008/2009 – 9th
  • 2009/2010 – 2nd
  • 2010/2011 – 4th
  • 2011/2012 – 4th
  • 2012/2013 – 10th

Club officials/Technical team

Source:[4]

2013–14 First team squad

As of 30 September 2013

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Zambia GK Kennedy Mweene
3 Zimbabwe MF Esrom Nyandoro
4 South Africa DF Tebogo Langerman
6 South Africa DF Wayne Arendse
7 Mozambique MF Domingues
8 South Africa MF Hlompho Kekana
9 South Africa FW Katlego Mphela
10 South Africa MF Teko Modise
11 South Africa FW Richard Henyekane
14 South Africa MF Surprise Moriri
15 Togo MF Dove Wome
16 South Africa DF Ramahlwe Mphahlele
17 Netherlands DF Alje Schut (Captain)
18 South Africa MF Sibusiso Khumalo
19 South Africa MF Mzikayise Mashaba
20 Zimbabwe MF Khama Billiat
No. Position Player
22 South Africa MF Jabulani Shongwe
23 South Africa MF Lebohang Mokoena
24 South Africa DF Bryce Moon
25 South Africa FW Rodney Ramagalela
27 Zimbabwe FW Cuthbert Malajila
28 Liberia MF Anthony Laffor
30 Zambia MF Mukuka Mulenga
31 South Africa DF Punch Masenamela
33 South Africa MF Tiyani Mabunda
34 South Africa MF Bongani Zungu
37 Ghana DF Rashid Sumaila
38 South Africa MF Raymond Monama
40 South Africa GK Wayne Sandilands
42 South Africa GK Thela Ngobeni
53 South Africa FW Katlego Mashego
Belgium GK Glenn Verbauwhede

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Uganda GK Denis Onyango (at Bidvest Wits until 30 June 2014)
South Africa DF Abel Mabaso (at Mpumalanga Black Aces until 30 June 2014)
South Africa DF Walter Maponyane (at Chippa United until 30 June 2014)
South Africa DF Seun Ledwaba (at Chippa United until 30 June 2014)
South Africa MF Musa Nyatama (at Bloemfontein Celtic until 30 June 2014)
South Africa MF Xolani Mdaki (at Santos Cape Town until 30 June 2014)
South Africa MF Themba Zwane (at Mpumalanga Black Aces until 30 June 2014)
No. Position Player
South Africa MF Thamsanqa Sangweni (at Ajax Cape Town until 30 June 2014)
South Africa MF Siyabulela Shai (at Chippa United until 30 June 2014)
South Africa MF Samuel Julies (at Vasco da Gama until 30 June 2014)
Zimbabwe FW Nyasha Mushekwi (at KV Oostende until 30 June 2014)
South Africa FW Edward Manqele (at Moroka Swallows until 30 June 2014)
South Africa FW Eleazar Rodgers (at Ajax Cape Town until 30 June 2014)
South Africa FW Therlo Moosa (at Vasco da Gama until 30 June 2014)

Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals.

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

  • Shirt sponsor: Ubuntu Botho
  • Kit manufacturer: Nike

References

  1. ↑ "Sundowns make South African history with 24–0 win". BBC Sport (BBC). 4 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Downs thrash Powerlines in record win". Sundowns FC. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Mamelodi Sundowns". Kickoff.com. Retrieved 2013-11-17. 
  4. ↑ Kickoff PSL Yearbook 2013/2014, p. 28.

External links

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. – current squad
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