Can anyone stop Mamelodi from winning another title?

There are leagues where there are clear title favorites, such as Ferencvaros in Hungary, Ludogorets in Bulgaria, or, from the stronger leagues, Bayern in Germany — but rarely is there such an outright “beast” as Mamelodi in South Africa. The chances of anyone dethroning them are measured in fractions of a percent. Eight years ago, Bidvest Wits were champions of South Africa, finishing three points ahead of Mamelodi. Since then, the team from Pretoria has dominated. Season after season, the so-called “Brazilians” — as the champions are nicknamed because of their yellow-and-blue kits — have only grown stronger.

The dream was achieved eight years ago: they won the African Champions League. But since then, the crown for the best team on the continent has not returned to their trophy-laden cabinets. Most often, Al Ahly from Cairo stood in their way. Last season, the team from Pretoria eliminated the Egyptian giants in the semifinals, but in the battle for the crown, Pyramids — the new power of the Pharaohs — came out on top. A new season in South Africa likely means the same old order. It would take a miracle for anyone to stop Mamelodi from winning another title. They left a good impression at the FIFA Club World Cup, even though they didn’t make it past the group stage. They beat South Korea’s Ulsan 1–0, lost in a goal-fest against Borussia Dortmund (3–4), and, in the decisive match where they needed a win to reach the knockout stage, drew 0–0 with Brazil’s Fluminense.

Participation in the inaugural 32-club tournament brought in around 8.5 million dollars, making Mamelodi immensely wealthy — at least by South African standards. Their power also comes from their well-known owner, one of Africa’s richest men, multibillionaire Patrice Motsepe, who is the all-powerful figure at Mamelodi. Not only is he the club’s alpha and omega, but also the president of the Confederation of African Football. His business ventures are in mining and the trade of non-ferrous metals and platinum. He owns Harmony Gold, the 12th-largest gold-mining company in the world, and is a board member of the powerful financial organization, the World Economic Forum. Since 2003, he has owned Mamelodi. Twelve years ago, he pledged to give away half his fortune to charity. He is worth nearly three billion dollars, which puts him at 1,175th on the Forbes list of the world’s richest people. Despite this fortune, he is only the third-richest person in South Africa, according to the business magazine.

Billions African clubs earned from FIFA Club World Cup

Back to the pitch: Mamelodi has 10 foreign players, the most in the league. The team has not changed much compared to last season. In attack, their main man is Ikram Reyners, whose explosiveness and eye for goal make him the Sundowns’ key weapon. At the other end stands goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, perhaps the most reliable South African goalkeeper of all time — with 75 clean sheets in 123 appearances and the title of Best Goalkeeper at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where he set a record by saving four penalties in a single shootout against Cape Verde in the quarterfinals. Among the foreigners are Brazilians Lucas Ribeiro and Artur Sales, Argentine Matías Esquivel, Chilean Marcelo Allende, Zimbabwean Divine Lunga, Namibian Peter Shalulile, Nigerian Etiosa Ighodaro, Ugandans Denis Onyango (captain) and Ismael Watenga, and Ethiopian Abubeker Nasir. On the bench since December is Miguel Cardoso, a Portuguese coach who previously led Rio Ave, Celta Vigo, and AEK Athens. He arrived from Esperance, the team he ironically eliminated from the Champions League with his new side.

Mamelodi will start the championship away to Chippa United in Mdantsane, at a stadium with a capacity of 15,000. The “Brazilians’” power in the South African league is shown by the 12-point gap over Orlando Pirates last season. Usually, the Sundowns build a double-digit lead by the halfway point of the season and then focus on the Champions League, which is the goal every year. Domestic trophies are considered a given. In the season before last, they finished 23 points ahead of Orlando. Defeats in domestic competition are rare for Mamelodi, and usually come only when the title has already been decided.