Mamelodi Sundowns are the DStv Premiership champions for another season, making sure of the 2022-23 title on Saturday without kicking a ball.
A draw for SuperSport United away against Chippa United in Gqeberha on Saturday means that runaway leaders Sundowns can no longer be caught.
SuperSport, who started the weekend’s programme in second place but have slipped to fourth, were the last team with a remote mathematical chance of catching up to their neighbours but after being held to a 1-1 stalemate can now only amass a maximum of 58 points – if they win all their remaining six games.
Sundowns are already on 59 points, with seven matches still to play in the season.
It’s official Mamelodi Sundowns are the 2022/2023 #DStvPrem champions ??
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) April 1, 2023
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Sundowns have extended their record number of league title wins in succession to six, and now have 16 league titles overall, three more than second-placed Kaizer Chiefs.
Sundowns, who are in African Champions League action later on Saturday, play their next league game on Tuesday at home to Cape Town City.
If they keep up their current rate of gathering points this season, they will end up on 77 at the end of the campaign and smash their own 30-game record of 71 set in 2015/16, and also beat their own 34-game mark of 75 that they jointly hold with Chiefs.
Sundowns are also on course for the wins in a season in the Premier Soccer League era. They have 19 from their 23 games so far this season, so need another five from their remaining seven matches to top the overall record of mark is 23 held by Sundowns, Chiefs and Manning Rangers, although that was when the league was 34 games long. It is now only 30 games long.
Sundowns will also be eying the record for the fewest goals conceded in a season.
The current mark is a paltry 11 goals conceded by Kaizer Chiefs in 2003/04 when they won the league. Sundowns have only conceded nine times in 23 games this term.
Sundowns set a new mark for best goal-difference last season with +36, but currently sit on that number and so remain on course to break that.
To the Yellow Nation, the players and everyone at @Masandawana, @coach_rulani has a message for you: ?????????????????????????????? ??#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/6ZRzwehOBv
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) April 1, 2023