Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.

Mamelodi Sundowns are a South African football club based in Pretoria that plays in the Premier Soccer League. They are the most successful team in the PSL era. They are also regarded as one of the giants in Africa.
Since the inception of the PSL in 1996 Sundowns have won the league title a record seven times and they are the current CAF Champions League champions and 2016 CAF Club Of The Year. They have also won the Nedbank Cup four times, and hold the joint record of three National Football League Championships and they are the only South African team to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup where they finished in 6th place
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 whom 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 Football League in 1973 and in 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 Football League threw their weight behind the then National Professional Football League. This meant the end of the Federation Professional Football 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 the club relocated to Mamelodi in the early 1980s.
In 1985 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 NPSL in 1983 but in their first season in top-flight football, they found the going difficult until Zola Mahobe came on board in 1985 and appointed Ben Segale as their coach.
In 1988, the ownership of the club fell into the hands of Standard Bank, which repossessed the club from Zola Mahobe. The club went into liquidation and the football family Angelo and Natasha Tsichlas spoke to the bank and saved the club. They then formed a company with Abe Krok and bought 100% of the club. Under the Tsichlas/Krok leadership Sundowns became the best team in South Africa. They won the first NSL League Trophy with Angelo Tsichlas as coach.
===Premier Soccer League===
National Soccer League was replaced by Premier Soccer League for the 1996–97 season. Sundowns won three consecutive titles 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 where they were defeated 4–1 on aggregate by Egyptian club Al Ahly.
Under Tsichlas the team became the best in South Africa and won more trophies than any other team in the country.
In 2004, mining magnate Patrice Motsepe bought a 51% share in the club and later took total control of the club by buying the remaining shares, thus becoming the sole owner and shareholder of the club. Under their new owner, 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 2010–11 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 2 December 2012 Pitso Mosimane took over as head coach and under his leadership Mamelodi Sundowns won the league 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 season. Mosimane oversaw the rise of Sundowns to win the CAF Champions League, which was the goal of owner Patrice Motsepe when he bought the club in 2004. 2017 Sundowns became the first team in South Africa to win the Caf Super cup by defeating TP Mazembe from DRC.
On 4 March 2012, the team set a remarkable South African record in the Nedbank Cup when they beat Powerlines by 24–0.
===2016===
Starting line up for CAF Champions League 2016 Final first leg
Sundowns were eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the 2016 CAF Champions League, but were placed back in the competition after Congolese team Vita Club were disqualified from the competition for fielding a suspended player. They continued in the competition all the way to the final, where they beat Egypt's Zamalek SC 3–1 on aggregate, claiming their first ever continental title and becoming only the second South African team to be crowned champions of Africa.
==Club records==
Type 	Nat	Name's 	Records 	
Type 	Nat	Name's 	Records 	
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) 	
Biggest victory 	 	vs Powerlines(4 March 2012, Nedbank Cup) 	24 - 0 	
Biggest defeat 	 	vs Africa Sports (4 Nov 2000, CAF Champions League)	1 - 6 	
Source:
===Premier Soccer League record===
Season 	Pos	Record	Record	Record	Record	Record	Record	Record	
Season 	Pos	P 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	GD 	Pst
1996–97	3rd
'''	34 	13 	11 	10 	35 	30 	5 	50
1997–98	1st	34 	19 	11 	4 	48 	25 	23 	68
1998–99	1st	34 	23 	6 	5 	70 	26 	44 	75
1999–00	1st	34 	23 	6 	5 	68 	34 	34 	75
2000–01	3rd	34 	17 	8 	9 	58 	32 	26 	59
2001–02	4th	34 	15 	11 	8 	47 	32 	15 	56
2002–03	4th	30 	11 	6 	13 	30 	30 	0 	39
2003–04	4th	30 	8 	12 	10 	32 	32 	0 	36
2004–05	3rd	30 	16 	8 	6 	54 	28 	26 	56
2005–06	1st	30 	16 	9 	5 	45 	19 	26 	57
2006–07	1st	30 	18 	7 	5 	45 	17 	28 	61
2007–08	4th	30 	13 	8 	9 	40 	35 	5 	47
2008–09	5th	30 	11 	7 	12 	28 	28 	0 	40
2009–10	2nd	30 	16 	8 	6 	43 	23 	20 	56
2010–11	4th	30 	18 	4 	8 	52 	28 	24 	58
2011–12	4th	30 	14 	10 	6 	44 	23 	21 	52
2012–13	9th	30 	9 	12 	9 	31 	27 	4 	39
2013–14	1st	30 	20 	5 	5 	51 	25 	26 	65
2014–15	2nd	30 	16 	9 	5 	44 	24 	20 	57
2015–16	1st	30 	22 	5 	3 	55 	20 	35 	71
2016–17	2nd	30 	16 	9 	5 	52 	20 	32 	57
2017–18	2nd	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Total 	 	654 	334 	172 	148 	972 	558 	414 	1174
==Honours==
===National Titles===
*Premier Soccer League
::Winners (7): 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2015–16 Record
::Runners-up (3): 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016-17
*National Soccer League
::Winners (3): 1988, 1989–90, 1992–93
::Runners-up (2): 1990–91, 1994–95
*Nedbank Cup
::Winners (4): 1986, 1998, 2008, 2014–15
::Runners-up (5): 1989, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011–12
*Telkom Knockout
::Winners (3): 1990, 1999, 2015
::Runners-up (4): 1997, 1998, 2007, 2012
*MTN 8
::Winners (3): 1988, 1990, 2007
::Runners-up (6): 1992, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2016
===Challenge Cup's===
*Telkom Charity Cup
::Winners (5): 1991, 2000, 2004, 2005,2006
===African Competitions===
*CAF Champions League:
Best Final Position	Year ( Season )
Winner 	2016
Runners-up 	2001
*CAF Super Cup:
Best Final Position	Year ( Season )
Winner 	2017
===Individual Awards===
*African Club of the Year 2016
*South African team of the year 2016
*PSL team of the season 2015-16, 2013-14
==Performance in CAF Competitions==
NB: South African football clubs started participating in CAF Competition's in 1993, After 16 years of being banned from FIFA due to the apartheid system. The ban started from 1976 to 1992
*African Cup of Champions Clubs / CAF Champions League: 10 appearances
The club have 1 appearances in African Cup of Champions Clubs 1994 and 9 appearances in CAF Champions League from 1999 until now.
Year	Best Finish
1994	Second Round
1999	Play-offs
2000	Group Stage
2001	Finalist
2006	First Round
2007	Play-offs
2008	Play-offs
2015	First Round
2016	Champion
2017	Quarterfinals
*CAF Confederation Cup: 4 appearances
*CAF Super Cup: 1 appearance
Year	Best Finish 	Best Finish 	Best Finish	Best Finish	Best Finish	Best Finish	Best Finish
Year	CAF Confederation Cup	CAF Super Cup	 	 	 	 	
2007	Group Stage 	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	
2008	Play-offs 	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	
2009	Second Round 	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	
2016	Play-offs 	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	
2017	DNQ 	Champion 	 	 	 	 	
*CAF Cup: 2 appearances
*African Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance
Year	Best Finish 	Best Finish 	Best Finish	Best Finish	Best Finish	Best Finish	Best Finish
Year	CAF Cup 	African Cup winners' Cup	 	 	 	 	
1996	Second Round	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	
1998	DNQ 	Second Round 	 	 	 	 	
2003	Second Round	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	
;Note
* DNQ - Did Not Qualify 
* The CAF announced on 24 May 2016 that Mamelodi Sundowns won on walkover after AS Vita Club were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in their preliminary round tie against Mafunzo.Mamelodi Sundowns played in the Confederation Cup play-off round before they were reinstated to the Champions League.
===Overall Matches===
Competition 	P 	W 	D 	L 	GF 	GA
CAF Cup 	8 	4 	1 	3 	11 	7
African Cup Winners' Cup	4 	2 	1 	1 	7 	3
CAF Champions League 	74 	39	19	16	112	75
CAF Confederation Cup 	16 	7 	2 	7 	25 	24
CAF Super Cup 	1 	1 	0 	0 	1 	0
Total 	103	53	23	27	156	109
==Performance in Fifa Club World Cup==
*FIFA Club World Cup: 1 Appearance
NB: Mamelodi Sundowns is the first football club from Southern African to represent CAF in FIFA Club World Cup, following their 2016 CAF Champions League success.
Year	Best finish	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pst
2016	6th Places 	2	0	0	2	1 	6 	-5	0
 	Total 	2	0	0	2	1 	6 	-5	0
==Club records==
Type 	Nat	Name's 	Records 	
Type 	Nat	Name's 	Records 	
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) 	
Biggest victory 	 	vs Powerlines(4 March 2012, Nedbank Cup) 	24 - 0 	
Biggest defeat 	 	vs Africa Sports (4 Nov 2000, CAF Champions League)	1 - 6 	
Source:
===Premier Soccer League record===
Season 	Pos	Record	Record	Record	Record	Record	Record	Record	
Season 	Pos	P 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	GD 	Pst
1996–97	3rd
'''	34 	13 	11 	10 	35 	30 	5 	50
1997–98	1st	34 	19 	11 	4 	48 	25 	23 	68
1998–99	1st	34 	23 	6 	5 	70 	26 	44 	75
1999–00	1st	34 	23 	6 	5 	68 	34 	34 	75
2000–01	3rd	34 	17 	8 	9 	58 	32 	26 	59
2001–02	4th	34 	15 	11 	8 	47 	32 	15 	56
2002–03	4th	30 	11 	6 	13 	30 	30 	0 	39
2003–04	4th	30 	8 	12 	10 	32 	32 	0 	36
2004–05	3rd	30 	16 	8 	6 	54 	28 	26 	56
2005–06	1st	30 	16 	9 	5 	45 	19 	26 	57
2006–07	1st	30 	18 	7 	5 	45 	17 	28 	61
2007–08	4th	30 	13 	8 	9 	40 	35 	5 	47
2008–09	5th	30 	11 	7 	12 	28 	28 	0 	40
2009–10	2nd	30 	16 	8 	6 	43 	23 	20 	56
2010–11	4th	30 	18 	4 	8 	52 	28 	24 	58
2011–12	4th	30 	14 	10 	6 	44 	23 	21 	52
2012–13	9th	30 	9 	12 	9 	31 	27 	4 	39
2013–14	1st	30 	20 	5 	5 	51 	25 	26 	65
2014–15	2nd	30 	16 	9 	5 	44 	24 	20 	57
2015–16	1st	30 	22 	5 	3 	55 	20 	35 	71
2016–17	2nd	30 	16 	9 	5 	52 	20 	32 	57
2017–18	2nd	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Total 	 	654 	334 	172 	148 	972 	558 	414 	1174
==Management & Staff==
Position 	Nat	Name's 	
Position 	Nat	Name's 	
Owner/President 	 	Patrice Motsepe 	
Acting General Manager 	 	Yogesh Singh 	
Director's 	 	Dr Rejoice Simelane, Adv Andrew Matube, Mr Andre Wilkens, Mr Sandile Langa	
Legal & Commercial Manager 	 	Mr Yogesh Singh 	
Supporter Mobilisation Manager 	 	Mr Alex Shakoane 	
Supporter Co-ordination Manager 	 	Mr Daniel Mudau 	
Finance Manager 	 	 	
Administration Manager 	 	Ms Belinda Ndlovu 	
Facilities & Projects Manager 	 	Mr Charles Ferreira 	
Marketing & Special Projects Manager	 	 	
Head of Security 	 	 	
Communications Co-ordinator 	 	Mr Thulani Thuswa 	
Supporters Assistant 	 	Ms Daisy Kgopa 	
Accountant 	 	Mr Jacob Molusi 	
HR and Administration 	 	Mr Boniface Motsepe 	
Receptionist 	 	Ms Tina Lesita 	
==Technical team==
Position 	Nat	Name's 	
Position 	Nat	Name's 	
Director of Football 	 	 	
Coach 	 	Pitso Mosimane 	
Assistant Coach 1st 	 	Manqoba Mngqithi	
Assistant Coach 2nd 	 	 	
Goalkeeper coach 	 	Wendell Robinson	
Head of youth development	 	Sam Mbatha 	
Source:Kickoff PSL Yearbook 2013/2014, p. 28.
==First team squad==
===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.
* Fares Hachi
* Ricardo Nascimento
* Fiston Abdul Razak
* Mogakolodi Ngele
* Leonardo Castro
* Soumahoro Bangaly
* Yannick Zakri
* Brimah Razak
* Cuthbert Malajila
Permanent residency:
* Anthony Laffor
* Denis Onyango
* Kennedy Mweene
* Khama Billiat
==Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer==
Kit suppliers	Kit suppliers	Kit suppliers
Dates 	Supplier 	
1990-1994 	Adidas 	
1994-1996 	Puma SE 	
2004–2008 	Diadora 	
2008–2016 	Nike 	
2016–Present 	Puma SE 	
Shirt sponsors	Shirt sponsors
Dates 	Sponsor
? 	Disprin
? 	Dettol
?–10 	MTN
2010–present 	Ubuntu Botho
==References==
==External links==
* 
*Premier Soccer League
*PSL Club Info
*South African Football Association
*Confederation of African Football
Category:Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.
Category:Soccer clubs in South Africa
Category:Soccer clubs in Pretoria
Category:Association football clubs established in 1970
Category:Premier Soccer League clubs
Category:1970 establishments in South Africa