Mamelodi Sundowns have long won the DStv Premiership title as they prepare for their final game of the season at home to bottom side Maritzburg United on Tuesday, but that does not mean they have nothing to play for.
We round up all the potential new records and milestones they could still hit in their final 90 minutes of the league campaign, as well as those they have already broken.
Most title wins in a row and most overall
This year’s championship is a sixth in succession for all-conquering Sundowns and their 16th overall, both South African football records. The fact that they won the title with seven games remaining in the season is also the earliest any side has achieved the championship victory. Their 16 league titles is three more than next on the list, Kaizer Chiefs.
Most points in a 30-game season
Should Sundowns claim a win against Maritzburg they will beat their own record for the most points in a 30-game PSL season, though they cannot now reach the overall top mark for all campaigns. Sundowns are on 69 points from their 29 games this campaign and have in their sights the record of 71 in a season they set under Pitso Mosimane in 2015/16. Only victory will do. The record for all seasons in South Africa is 75 points which Sundowns jointly hold with Kaizer Chiefs from the 1998/99 campaign that had 34 matches per team in it.
Most wins in a season
In the PSL era overall, this mark is 23 held by Sundowns, Chiefs and Manning Rangers, while in a 30-game season the Brazilians hold the record with 22, also set in 2015/16. They can match that with victory over Maritzburg as they currently sit on 21 wins to go with six draws and two defeats.
Most wins in succession
Sundowns have already secured this record after going on a 15-game winning run in the league this season, beating their own best mark of 11 set in the 2006/07 campaign. In doing so, Brazilians coach Rhulani Mokwena matched Gordon Igesund’s best mark of 11 wins in a row for a PSL coach. The run this season was ended by a 1-1 draw at Stellenbosch, but Mokwena remains unbeaten in the league this campaign (W14 D5).
Most home wins in a 30-game season
Sundowns have won 12 of their 14 home games so far this campaign (D1 L1), so remain on course to beat a mark they currently jointly hold. The record for a 30-game PSL campaign is 12 home wins, achieved by BidVest Wits (2016/17), Sundowns (2015/16) and Ajax Cape Town (2010/11). One more victory and it is another record for the Class of 2022/23.
Most goals in a season
The overall PSL record is out of reach with Chiefs the current holders with the 73 goals they scored in 34 games in the 1998/99 season. The top mark in a 30-game campaign is the 56 Sundowns netted last season, which they at one stage looked odds-on to beat this campaign. That now seems a tall order though as they have 51 goals in 29 games and only a massive victory against Maritzburg will see them top it.
Fewest goals conceded in a season
This is a record that is now gone after Sundowns conceded for a 12th time in the league against AmaZulu earlier this month. The current best mark is a paltry 11 goals conceded by Kaizer Chiefs in the 2003/04 season as they won the league.
Most clean sheets in a season
Another record that Sundowns can’t match as a team, though there is still some personal glory to be had. The current best mark is 21 held by Chiefs in 2003/04 and Sundowns have 19 in their 29, so cannot top it. However, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is now the record-holder for most clean sheets in a PSL season by a gloveman after he kept his 18th against Marumo Gallants last time out. That beats the previous record of Orlando Pirates’ Moeneeb Josephs by one, and Williams could extend it further on Tuesday if he plays. The previous best mark for Sundowns was the 15 clean sheets (from 25 appearances) by Denis Onyango in 2020/21.
Best goal difference
Sundowns set a new mark for best goal difference last season with +36 and currently sit on +39, so unless they slip to a heavy loss, will better that number, perhaps by quite a bit.
Biggest title-winning margin
Sundowns currently hold this record, having romped to a 16-point league title win last season but are set to better that this time round. They currently hold an unassailable 18-point lead in the championship, though that could be reduced to 15 if they lose to Maritzburg and one or both of Pirates and SuperSport win on the final day.
Quickest goal
Thapelo Morena’s goal after 25 seconds against Marumo Gallants is the quickest in the DStv Premiership this season, though not the fastest of all time. Records may be sketchy, but we know Mabhuti Khenyeza scored for Chiefs against Pirates after 19 seconds in 2007.
Most decorated player
Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango has now claimed 10 league titles in South Africa, a record and one that will take some beating. The first three of those came in the colours of SuperSport, before winning seven with Sundowns, including in the last six seasons. He might have had one more too but was sent on loan to BidVest Wits when Sundowns won the league championship in the 2013/14 campaign. Next on the list of players with the most league winners’ medals is Hlompho Kekana, who left Sundowns in 2021 after his eighth. He won two at SuperSport and six with Sundowns.