Sundowns reinforce their domestic dominance
MAMELODI Sundowns are unquestionably the most successful South African football team in the PSL era, and they again confirmed their dominance by winning a sixth consecutive Premiership title by a country mile this season.
Sundowns reinforced their domestic dynasty by claiming their latest league title after playing only 23 of the 30 matches this season – a record for the earliest a team has won the championship since the formation of the PSL.
With only two defeats, they were utterly dominant in the league and set many records along the way in what was a one-horse race from
January onwards.
This unprecedented sixth title is now one of 13 they have won since 1998.
No other club has recorded a league-winning spell of more than four titles.
At this rate, Sundowns look set to become an unstoppable juggernaut next season again.
They enjoyed a spell of 15 wins in a row, and then they finished with the best goal difference (+39). They won the league by 16 points.
They also won the title by the same margin last season, and this remains a record in a 16-team league.
Towards the end of the season when Sundowns had to juggle Premiership games with Caf Champions League assignments, the technical staff opted to keep the best players fresh for the continental competition.
As a result, several untried combinations were roped in for domestic duty and the team, uncharacteristically, ran up three draws in their last five league games.
This dented their chances of improving their record as they finished the season with 21 wins.
One of the driving forces behind Sundowns' flow of victories was Namibian international Peter Shalulile.
The striker, one of the league's most lethal strikers, joined the PSL's 100-goal club this season.
The last two goals in the milestone achievement were scored in a Caf match when he scored a brace in Sundowns' win over Algeria's CR Belouizdad.
This season Shalulile battled with numerous injuries which caused him to miss several matches. However, he did enough to claim a share of this season's Golden Boot award with Cape Town City's forward, Khanyisa Mayo. Each scored 12 league goals this season.
Like Shalulile, Sundowns' goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has been a tower of strength this season.
Last year, Williams joined Sundowns from rivals SuperSport United and many did not think he would become the team's No 1 shotstopper.
Ugandan Denis Onyango and Zambian Kennedy Mweene had already proved to be stand-out goalkeepers for the club.
However, once he was given a chance he never looked back and became an important cog for Sundowns. Williams has 18 league clean sheets for the season. It bettered the benchmark set by former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs who set a record of 17 clean sheets in the 2009-10 season.
With this kind of form,
Sundowns have completely overshadowed the top flight's biggest drawcards Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates.
Finally, Sundowns will keep the league trophy, and it will not go on offer next season. DStv chief executive Marc Jury said a new trophy will be designed for next season's competition.