A much as Mamelodi Sundowns have dominated the past Tshwane derbies against SuperSport United, beating their neighbours has never been a given and that will likely to be the case again in midweek when the two meet.
Wednesday’s clash in Atteridgeville will be the 82nd between the two clubs, stretching back to 1990 when SuperSport were still known as Pretoria City and when Sundowns were beginning to consolidate their rise to prominence as one of the country’s more important clubs.
‘Downs have since gone onto become the dominant force in South African football with a total of 16 championship triumphs, the last six in a record-breaking row.
Over the last years, Sundowns have continued to set new standards of dominance but in five of the last six seasons, SuperSport have managed to take points off the Brazilians, making them into an irritable neighbour.
In the last campaign, Sundowns collected 70 points and lost only two of their 30 league matches – one of them to SuperSport.
Their only home loss in the 2018-19 season, when they finished two points ahead of runners-up Orlando Pirates, was to SuperSport.
SuperSport also beat Sundowns 3-1 on aggregate in the 2019 MTN8 semi-final, going onto edge Highlands Park in the final.
But overall, the win count is a lobsided one with Sundowns having won exactly double the number of games in the derby than SuperSport have. Sundowns have a total of 44 victories to 22 for SuperSport with only 15 draws. The goal tally is also dominated by Sundowns with 124 to SuperSport’s 83.
Daniel Mudau, who is still the club’s all-time leading scorer, netted 14 goals against SuperSport but Peter Shalulile, has the potential to shatter his record, has only scored twice against ‘Matsatsantsa’.
Mudau scored all five goals in 1993 as Sundowns beat Pretoria City 5-1 away on their way to what would be their third title. He netted one in the first half, then three in 18 minutes early in the second half before grabbing his fifth six minutes from time. Deshi Bhaktawer was the unfortunate goalkeeper on the receiving end.
Zane Moosa scored the only goal in the first meeting between the two clubs in 1990 while Pretoria City beat Sundowns for the first time the next year with Johannes Shili and Ronald Lawrence the scorers in a 2-1 win.
Sundowns were the first side in the history of the South African football to win three successive championships between 1998 and 2000 and it is a feat that only SuperSport have been able to match, doing so between 2008 to 2010.
Wednesday’s game is also a meeting between familiar foes. Sundowns can choose from three ex-SuperSport goalkeepers in Denis Onyango, Reyaad Pieterse and Ronwen Williams, plus also have bought Grant Kekana, Thapelo Maseko, Sipho Mbule, Aubrey Modiba and Tebeho Mokoena in recent years.
SuperSport purchased their key midfielder Grant Margeman this season after he had been on loan from Sundowns plus also have Ricardo Goss back for a second season in a separate loan deal.
Both clubs are having to switch their focus after they were in African club competition action on Sunday, and will be again at the weekend. Sundowns handed African Champions League newcomers Nouadhibou from Mauritania a rude welcome to the group phase of the continent’s top club competition with a 3-0 win at Loftus Versfeld.
With the derby against coming up, SuperSport fielded many of their young players against Egypt’s Modern Future in Cairo, which meant victory for the home side at the Al Ahly Stadium although Ghanam Mohamed took until the 76th minute before he finally broke the deadlock.