Mamelodi Sundowns: How a ‘third force’ became South Africa’s dominant club

Mamelodi Sundowns have risen from challengers to the dominant force in South African football, establishing themselves as the country’s leading club and one of the strongest sides in Africa as the Premier Soccer League (PSL) marks its 30th anniversary.

For much of the PSL era, the spotlight belonged to Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Their black-and-gold and iconic skull-and-crossbones identities were embedded in South African culture, while their history, support and success appeared to make their supremacy almost untouchable.

But on the eastern outskirts of Pretoria, a different football project was developing in Mamelodi.

Sundowns were eventually labelled the “third force” by legendary football writer Sy Lerman, a description that recognised their growing influence while suggesting they remained outside the established elite. Over the following two decades, however, the club would change the balance of power in South African football.

The decisive shift came in 2003, when Patrice Motsepe acquired Sundowns. His involvement was not limited to providing financial backing. He brought a long-term plan founded on sustainability, professionalism and demanding standards, choosing gradual construction over the pursuit of quick solutions.

A major part of that approach was an effort to improve the financial security and status of professional footballers. South Africa had produced many celebrated players whose sporting achievements were followed by hardship after retirement. Motsepe believed that cycle needed to end and insisted Sundowns players should receive salaries that reflected their contribution, enabling them to plan more secure futures for themselves and their families.

That policy influenced the wider PSL. As Sundowns improved both standards and remuneration, other clubs had to respond if they were to attract and keep leading players. The rise in player earnings across South African football is regarded as one of Motsepe’s lasting contributions to the professional game.

Success was not immediate. Sundowns endured seasons in which critics mocked the scale of the investment and questioned whether it was working. Yet the club remained committed to its plan. Poor campaigns became opportunities to learn, while setbacks were treated as part of a process rather than proof that the vision had failed.

By the middle of the 2010s, the change was impossible to ignore. Sundowns had closed the gap on Chiefs and Pirates before moving beyond them. Their consistency became one of the defining characteristics of modern South African football, with season after season producing a level of performance unmatched in the professional era.

Their achievements have involved more than trophies and records. Sundowns have also developed a distinctive style, described as “piano and shoeshine”: possession-based, technically refined and tactically intelligent. The nickname “The Brazilians” reflects an inspiration drawn from creative, rhythmic and expressive football rather than an attempt to imitate another nation.

From domestic leaders to African contenders

After becoming South Africa’s benchmark club, Sundowns turned their attention to the continental stage. Their victories in the 2016 and 2026 CAF Champions League confirmed their status among Africa’s leading clubs, where success requires resilience through difficult travel, hostile environments, strong opponents and a deep historical tradition.

The latest African club rankings place Sundowns above Al Ahly as the continent’s highest-ranked side. Their commercial standing has followed the same upward path. Transfermarkt values Sundowns at about €40.2m (R760.1m), ahead of Al Ahly, whose estimated value ranges from €36.9m to €38.1m (R697.7m to R720.4m).

The club’s influence has also extended to the national teams. Players developed in the demanding environment at Chloorkop have contributed significantly to Bafana Bafana, while Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have won two continental titles. They claimed the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021 and regained the trophy in 2023.

Sundowns players also formed the backbone of the Banyana Banyana team that won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, further illustrating the club’s impact beyond its own results.

Their progress has forced other South African clubs to improve their football operations, technical departments and approach to player welfare. Competition has become more professional because Sundowns refused to accept mediocrity as the benchmark.

The club’s support has grown alongside its success. The Yellow Nation has expanded in both size and belief, with recent capacity crowds showing that Sundowns are collecting more than silverware: they are attracting new supporters and inspiring another generation.

Their dominance was not inherited. It was built through long-term investment, patience and sustained execution. In a country often shaped by demands for immediate results, Sundowns have demonstrated how institutions and football dynasties can be created over time.

Their story is therefore about more than replacing Chiefs and Pirates at the top of South African football. It is about challenging an established order, improving professional standards, strengthening player welfare and showing that an African club can compete with pride among the best in the world.

Monama is a strategic communication specialist, public affairs commentator and writer.

TimesLIVE