Rhulani Mokwena faces pressure to follow in Pitso Mosimane’s footsteps, and all eyes are on former Orlando Pirates player Thembinkosi Lorch as Mamelodi Sundowns looks to win their seventh PSL championship.
With a significant edge, Mamelodi Sundowns is well-positioned to make light work of another Premier Soccer League season.
Supporters lost out on a prelude this week as clubs prepare to go deep into the weekend’s action due to the PSL comeback being postponed. Even though they played two draws prior to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations break, reigning champion Mamelodi Sundowns still have the final say.
When Sundowns meet rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday night, they will be able to build on their comfortable advantage. The main topic of conversation coming up to this always fascinating matchup is Thembinkosi Lorch’s new chapter.
Here, GOAL makes recommendations regarding the PSL trophy’s future, given that its sponsors are scheduled to present a redesigned trophy because Downs secured it in their glitzy Chloorkop cabinet after winning it three times in a row. While focusing on Sundowns’ recent additions, we also consider their goals for the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns has been the PSL’s runaway champions, leading their nearest pursuers, Cape Town City, by nine points. Sundowns got off to a fiery start, just like they had for the previous six seasons, but Downs emerged victorious each time. Given the absence of teams like Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates from the PSL championship competition, Sundowns are the favorites to win again.
In African club football, Rhulani Mokwena has won three gold medals: the 2023 African Football League, the 2017 Caf Super Cup, and the 2016 Caf Champions League.
As Pitso Mosimane’s right-hand man, he won the first two, and now his burning ambition is to win the Champions League as the only head coach. On the 24th of this month, Downs will make their Champions League comeback against Nouadhibou, where they will aim to seize control of a lackluster Group A.
The legacy of Rhulani Mokwena
At least in terms of coaching, Mosimane is the coach at Sundowns with the greatest legacy.
Mosimane is still the only Downs coach to have lifted the Champions League trophy. He has five PSL titles in addition to other local cups. Mokwena is under pressure to surpass his mentor in order to further establish his legacy at the club.
New armaments
Sundowns seldom miss the transfer window, and they added three players from Orlando Pirates this season: Tashreeq Matthews, Matias Esquivel, and Thembinkosi Lorch.
These guys will only strengthen Sundowns’ already all-star roster, which will put more pressure on the players already there and raise the bar for competition at the team. But Lorch and company will have to earn their place in the starting lineup; they won’t just pop into the starting lineup.
A gold mine in South America
Due to the stellar performances of players like Ricardo Nascimento and Jose Torrealba over the years, Sundowns has always been a leader in the signing of South American athletes.
Downs includes Junior Mendieta, Esquivel, Marcelo Allende, Ribeiro Costa, and Sirino (all from Argentina). Since PSL teams are only permitted to register five players due to the foreign quota, it is unclear if Mokwena will ever be able to field them all at once. Among the other foreigners present during Sundowns is Abubaker Nassir.