Sundowns' top five academy graduates in last decade

Mamelodi Sundowns recently promoted South Africa youth international Malebogo Modise from their academy.

The defender-cum-midfielder has joined a long list of players, who turned out for Masandawana youth teams, before being promoted to the club's first team.

The Sundowns academy has produced some tremendous players over time and currently, the first team squad is filled with academy graduates.

From Motjeka Madisha, Nicholus Lukhubeni, Keletso Makgalwa to Sphelele Mkhulise and now 21-year-old Modise.

We take a look at Sundowns' top five academy graduates in the last 10 PSL seasons:

BUHLE MKHWANAZI

The Bafana Bafana international broke into the Sundowns' first team in 2010 and he looked like he was destined to be a top-quality central defender.

Mkhwanazi made 10 competitive appearances for Sundowns in the 2010/11 campaign, before being loaned out to Bloemfontein Celtic and the University of Pretoria between 2011 and 2013 and he enjoyed regular game time at both clubs.

The University of Pretoria purchased Mkhwanazi from Sundowns ahead of the 2013/14 season and he served as the club's captain until he moved to Bidvest Wits where he has won the Absa Premiership title, MTN8 and Telkom Knockout Cup.

Mkhwanazi has also represented South Africa at the 2013 COSAFA Cup, 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals, and he is considered to be one of the best central defenders in the PSL.

JABULANI SHONGWE

The midfield maestro was promoted to the Sundowns first team after inspiring the club's then-feeder team ALS Puk Tawana to a surprise win over the now-defunct Platinum Stars in April 2010.

Shongwe struggled for game time in his first two seasons in the PSL, but the 2012/13 campaign proved to be his breakthrough season and he signed by Bidvest Wits in January 2014 and he became a key player under coach Gavin Hunt at the Clever Boys.

A creative midfielder with a special left-foot, Shongwe was part of the Wits team which won the league and cup (MTN8) double in the 2016/17 campaign and at some point, he was one of the top midfielders in the country and he was heavily linked with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The 30-year-old player, who has seven caps for Bafana Bafana, has since turned out for Lamontvile Golden Arrows, Chippa United and Highlands Park in the PSL.

MOTJEKA MADISHA

The highly-rated defender has produced some spectacular displays at the heart of the defence for Sundowns having come through the club's academy.

Madisha was loaned out to then-National First Division (NFD) club Highlands Park in the 2015/16 season, before returning to Masandawana where he has gradually developed into one of the finest central defenders in the country under the guidance of coach Pitso Mosimane

A tough and committed defender, Madisha, 25, has helped the Tshwane giants clinch two Absa Premiership titles, two Telkom Knockout Cups, CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup and has been touted as a future Sundowns captain.

Mosimane has repeatedly called for the inclusion of Madisha in the Bafana Bafana squad with the former South Africa under-20 captain boasting two caps for the senior national team.

SIYANDA XULU

The well-traveled player burst onto the scene as a promising central defender in the 2009/10 season and he quickly became a key player in the Sundowns first team.

Xulu enjoyed regular game time as Masandawana challenged for the Absa Premiership title in his debut season and ultimately, the team finished second in the competition and the centre back was named PSL 2009/10 Young Player of the Season.

The talented defender continued to improve in the next two campaigns and he was snapped up by Russia's FC Rostov where he won the 2014 Russian Cup as a Bafana Bafana player, before he came back home to join Kaizer Chiefs and he had a two-year unsuccessful spell with the club.

However, Xulu, 28, managed to revive his career at Maritzburg United and he was linked with top PSL clubs Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United, but he has since joined Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv on 29 July 2020.

PERCY TAU

The Bafana Bafana international is arguably Sundowns academy's best graduate having excelled in the PSL and on the African content before moving abroad.

A versatile attacker blessed with pace, Tau was promoted to the first team in 2013 and he struggled to impress in his first two seasons in the elite league and he was loaned out to then-National First Division (NFD) outfit Witbank Spurs where he flourished during the 2015/16 campaign.

Upon his return to Masandawana, Tau became one of coach Pitso Mosimane's key players and he helped the team clinch two Absa Premiership titles, Telkom Knockout Cup, Nedbank Cup, Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup

Tau was named PSL Footballer of the Year and won the league's Golden Boot award in his final season (2017/18) with Sundowns and he was snapped up by English side Brighton and Hove Albion, but due to work-permit complications, he has been loaned out twice.

The left-footed attacker, who is one of Bafana Bafana's key players, spent time some time with Belgian clubs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the 2018/19 season and Club Brugge where he won the 2019/20 Pro League title and played in the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League.