Aubrey Modiba says Mamelodi Sundowns will miss Peter Shalulile after Yanga move

Aubrey Modiba says Mamelodi Sundowns will miss Peter Shalulile both on and off the pitch after the striker’s unexpected move to Tanzanian club Yanga.

Modiba and Shalulile joined Sundowns on the same day, creating a close bond between the pair over the years. The South African defender says he did not expect Shalulile to leave the club, particularly after the Namibian became a central figure in the team’s dressing room.

“Funny enough, I arrived the same day at Peter. We arrived together and seeing him leave, it’s not something I expected, to be honest,” Modiba said at the launch of the 2026 MTN8 in Randburg, Johannesburg, on Thursday evening.

Shalulile joined Sundowns in 2020, after the status of his former club Highlands Park was sold to TS Galaxy. He departs the Betway Premiership as the competition’s all-time leading scorer, having scored 130 goals, and leaves behind a legacy that has made him a South African football legend.

His influence was not limited to his goals. Modiba recalled how Shalulile’s music, singing and dancing regularly lifted the mood in the dressing room, while his approach to training and matches made him a significant competitor.

“It happened and we are going to miss him. We are going to miss him in the gym, we are going to miss his music and the way he used to cheer us in the dressing room and the way he used to dance. He is a competitor. The way he trains, the way he approaches games and the way he scored those important goals for us.

“I am going to miss him a lot. I think Yanga have gained a good striker who is going to help them bang in those goals. He doesn’t have to score against us. Yeah, we are going to miss him a lot.”

Sundowns’ first competitive match of the new season will come against Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-finals at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

Their opening Betway Premiership fixture against Marumo Gallants was postponed last weekend, meaning Polokwane City will provide the club’s first test in a competitive match.

Sundowns have been affected by the death of Jayden Adams, but Modiba says the squad continued working during their pre-season tour of Austria as they prepared for the campaign and sought to honour the memory of their fallen hero.

“It hasn’t been easy for us for the past few weeks, but we had a good pre-season. We managed to get the things that we wanted to get for the new season with the new players to gel and understand how we play games

“Polokwane City first game. We didn’t play our league game. They played their first game (against Richards Bay). We are going to watch that game. They’ve got a new coach, new players as well. Different from last season. Cup competitions are difficult and anything can happen, but I think we are up for the challenge, and we will be ready for that game.”