Mamelodi Sundowns, despite dominating the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) and clinching the title last season, have disappointed many of their fans with lackluster performances in other competitions. The recent 0-0 draw against Maniema Union in the CAF Champions League on Tuesday, 26 November 2024, added to the growing list of underwhelming results.
While the club made light work of securing the PSL title, their efforts in other tournaments have been far from impressive. Sundowns were expected to make a strong push in the Carling Cup but suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to PSL newcomers Magesi FC in the final. Magesi’s coach, Clinton Larsen, expressed pride in his team’s performance, while Sundowns’ co-coach, Rhulani Mngqithi, was critical of some of his star players following the loss.
In addition to that shock defeat, Sundowns also stumbled when they were denied the invincible tag in the PSL. After an otherwise dominant season, they were defeated 1-0 by Cape Town City on the final matchday of the 2023/2024 campaign, failing to complete the season undefeated.
Adding to the frustration for Sundowns and their fans was their failure in the Nedbank Cup. A 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 1 June 2024, courtesy of Relebohile Mofokeng’s late winner, stopped Sundowns from completing a double. Fans were particularly vocal in their disappointment, feeling that the PSL champions had failed to demonstrate the necessary resilience to claim the cup and prove their ability to win when it mattered most.
These setbacks, combined with recent underwhelming performances, have raised concerns over Sundowns’ ability to handle high-pressure situations in multiple competitions, even as they continue to reign in the PSL.
