Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Tlhopie Motsepe says Sundowns’ CAF Champions League win did not make the season a complete success.
- The Sundowns chairman says the club will return hungrier after Orlando Pirates beat them to the league title.
Tlhopie Motsepe says Mamelodi Sundowns will come back hungrier next season.
The Sundowns chairman said the club ended the campaign strongly by winning the CAF Champions League, but admitted the season was not a complete success.
Sundowns failed to defend their Betway Premiership title and also missed out on the local cup competitions.
Motsepe said that hurt because Sundowns are built to chase every trophy.
“While we can certainly say that this season was special, we cannot say that the season was a complete success,” said Motsepe.
“We finished our 2026 campaign in a very strong manner, but we did not start as well as we had hoped. In addition to failing to secure the local cups, we fell short of winning our ninth league title in a row.”
Motsepe admitted Orlando Pirates deserved to finish ahead of Sundowns in the league.
“As much as it pains me to say this, we lost the league because our rivals were better than us over the course of the season,” he said.
“However, if we are to relinquish our domestic championship, let it be to an Orlando Pirates team that performed as exceptionally as they did this year.”
Motsepe said the pain of losing the league will push Sundowns to respond.
“Sundowns is an aspirational club that aims to win everything every year,” he said.
“And the years we do not win are the years we come back hungrier and more determined. Remember, every setback is an opportunity for a comeback.”
Sundowns have already returned to pre-season training ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Their Bafana Bafana players have been given extra time off after playing for South Africa at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
The club has also started strengthening coach Miguel Cardoso’s squad.
Sundowns have signed Antonio van Wyk from Austrian side SV Ried and highly rated winger Siyanda Ndlovu from Golden Arrows.
Pictured above: Mamelodi Sundowns players.
Image source: File
