Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Motsepe reflects on painful end to club’s league dominance

Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Thlopane Motsepe has acknowledged his disappointment after the club failed to secure a ninth consecutive South African Premiership title.

After dominating South African football for eight straight seasons, Sundowns entered the 2025/26 campaign aiming to extend their historic reign at the summit of the domestic game.

However, their hopes of retaining the league crown were dashed as Orlando Pirates emerged as the country’s new champions following a consistent and impressive season.

Although Sundowns managed to end the campaign with silverware by lifting the prestigious CAF Champions League trophy, Motsepe admitted that the season could not be considered a complete success given the club’s lofty standards and expectations.

In his Chairman’s Letter published in the latest Sundowns magazine, Motsepe reflected on a campaign that delivered continental glory but also brought domestic disappointment.

“While we can certainly say that this season was special, we cannot say that the season was a complete success. We finished our 2026 campaign in a very strong manner but we did not start as well as we had hoped,” he said.

The Sundowns chairman pointed to the team’s failure to win domestic cup competitions and, most notably, their inability to retain the league title as major setbacks in an otherwise memorable season.

“In addition to failing to secure the local cups, we fell short of winning our ninth title in a row. As much as it pains me to say this, we lost the league because our rivals were better than us over the course of the season.”

The admission marks a rare acknowledgment from a club that has set the benchmark for consistency in South African football over the past decade. Sundowns have dominated the domestic landscape through a combination of strong recruitment, financial stability and an ambitious football project, making the loss of the league title particularly difficult to accept.

Despite his disappointment, Motsepe showed sportsmanship by praising Orlando Pirates for their achievement and recognising the quality they displayed throughout the campaign.

“However, if we are to relinquish our domestic championship, let it be to an Orlando Pirates team that performed as exceptionally as they did this year. Congratulations to them and the other Clubs that won silverware this season.”

His comments underline the respect that Pirates earned through their title-winning run, with the Buccaneers finally ending Sundowns’ long-standing dominance of the league. Their triumph has injected fresh excitement into South African football and set the stage for what promises to be an intriguing battle for honours next season.

For Sundowns, attention will now shift towards building on their continental success and reclaiming their domestic crown. While winning the CAF Champions League remains a significant accomplishment, Motsepe’s remarks make it clear that the club’s ambitions extend beyond continental glory and that returning to the top of the Betway Premiership will be a major objective in the coming campaign.

With both Sundowns and Pirates expected to strengthen their squads ahead of next season, South African football could be set for one of its most competitive title races in years.