Mamelodi Sundowns poised for another dominant season
Mamelodi Sundowns will enter the 2025/26 Premiership season with their sights set on an unprecedented ninth consecutive league title.
Their recent showing at the FIFA Club World Cup further highlighted the gulf in class between them and the rest of the domestic competition.
While most teams have spent the off-season preparing for the upcoming campaign, the Brazilians had their schedule extended by international commitments.
Their participation in the expanded Club World Cup saw them go toe-to-toe with some of the world's elite, leaving them with limited time to rest before turning their focus back to local matters.
That short turnaround could be a blessing in disguise. For a squad used to juggling multiple competitions throughout the season, a brief break may be just enough to recharge without losing sharpness. It might even give them a competitive edge heading into the opening weeks.
There hasn't been a flurry of incoming transfer activity at Chloorkop, but with the depth and quality already in the squad, it was hardly necessary.
The core group that powered them to glory last season remains intact. That continuity offers stability at a time when many of their rivals are rebuilding and integrating new faces.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
40 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Piastri wins Belgian GP, extends championship lead
'I knew lap one was going to be my best chance of winning the race." Winner McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri lifts the first place trophy after winning the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, on July 27, 2025. (Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP) Oscar Piastri held off his McLaren teammate Lando Norris to win the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc came third as Piastri stretched his lead in the drivers' standings over Norris to 16 points. Heavy rain delayed the 13th round of the season by 80 minutes, with organisers eventually allowing a rolling start after four laps behind the safety car as the sun finally appeared. Pole sitter Norris was quickly passed by Piastri as Norris complained he had a problem with his car's battery. Piastri then produced a controlled race from the front to lead home McLaren's sixth 1-2 of the season. 'I knew lap one was going to be my best chance of winning the race,' said Piastri. 'Rest of race we managed really well,' the Australian added. 'Oscar did a good job, nothing more to say,' said Norris. Max Verstappen, winner of Saturday's sprint, took fourth in Laurent Mekies' first race weekend as Red Bull team principal after the sacking of Christian Horner a fortnight ago.
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
McIntosh makes golden start as Australia win world relay double
Teenage phenomenon Summer McIntosh captured gold in ominous fashion on the opening day of the world swimming championships on Sunday as Australia claimed a relay double in Singapore. The 18-year-old Canadian launched her packed programme with a dominant performance in the women's 400m freestyle, romping home in 3min 56.26sec, nearly two seconds clear of China's Li Bingjie, who was followed by American great Katie Ledecky in bronze. It was world record holder McIntosh's first world title in the event as she pursues five individual golds in Singapore. With Australia's Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus skipping the championships before she prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the race was billed as a showdown between McIntosh and Ledecky. But McIntosh grasped control early on and streaked further ahead as the race progressed. "I think the 400 freestyle in past world championships and Olympics, I haven't been at my best and I haven't been where I want to be," she said. "So to finally stand on the centre of the podium is promising for the rest of the meet." AFP | François-Xavier MARIT McIntosh, who broke three world records at the Canadian trials in the lead-up to the worlds, jumped straight back into the pool for the 200m medley semi-finals 20 minutes after winning gold. She qualified for the final with the fastest time, saying she was "in the best shape of my life". "Now I just have to act on that and put it into all of my races," she added. McIntosh was joined in Monday's 200m IM final by Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi. The schoolgirl, who juggles swimming with homework, squeezed into the final. "I'm in? Oh, I'm happy about that and I will continue to work harder," she said. "I hope to find a breakthrough at these world championships and show my potential." - Maertens pips Short - Germany's Lukas Maertens won a nail-biting gold in the men's 400m freestyle, pipping Australia's Sam Short by 0.02sec. Maertens, the Olympic champion and world record holder, became world champion in the event for the first time. German compatriot Florian Wellbrock won four golds in the open water events in Singapore and Maertens said their country had taken a "big step forward". AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA "All the girls and guys are a really young team and there are a lot to come," he said. "Now I'm one of the old guys and I'm 23. That means a lot and I'm really proud to be in the German team." Maertens came home in 3min 42.35sec after a fierce battle with Short, the 2023 world champion. South Korea's Kim Woo-min, the reigning world champion, was third. Maertens was the favourite after breaking the world record in Stockholm in April, a mark that had stood since 2009. But Short fought him every stroke of the way, losing out after an incredible tussle to the finish. "There was a lot of pressure, also as the world record holder, it wasn't easy to fight these guys," said Maertens. Australia ended the opening night on a high after both their women's and men's teams won the 4x100m freestyle relays. The women's team of Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Milla Jansen and Olivia Wunsch came home ahead of the United States, with the Netherlands third. Flynn Southam, Kai James Taylor, Maximillian Giuliani and Kyle Chalmers then completed the double, finishing ahead of Italy and the Americans in the men's race. Their winning time of 3:08.97 was a world championship record. "We've come together really well in camp and preparation -- we believed we could do it and we did it," said Chalmers. - US hit with illness - The US team is battling a stomach bug in the camp, with two competitors skipping their opening races. Torri Huske, a treble gold medallist at last year's Paris Olympics, and 18-year-old Claire Weinstein did not compete "so they could focus on other events", team official Nikki Warner told AFP. "Our team experienced acute gastroenteritis," Warner said. "No one has pulled out of the competition." Huske later competed in the relay final. By Andrew Mckirdy
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Basadien excited at move to Masandawana
New Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fawaaz Basadien is excited at the opportunity to win trophies with the club. Basadien completed his move from Stellenbosch to Sundowns on Saturday to become their first signing ahead of the new season, and immediately joined his new teammates in their preseason camp in Rustenburg. 𝑵𝑬𝑾 𝑺𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑶𝑵, 𝑵𝑬𝑾 𝑺𝑰𝑮𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺 ✍ It's time to get ready for a new season! Introducing our newest signing - the versatile & talented Fawaaz Basadien! 🔥 Welcome to the Yellow Nation, Fawaaz 💛 #Sundowns #WelcomeBasadien — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 26, 2025 The 28-year-old Bafana Bafana defender joined Sundowns after making 111 appearances for the Cape winelands side in the last three years and where he played an instrumental role in their CAF Confederation Cup semifinal. 'Masandawana family, I'm happy to be here and I can't wait for you guys to fill up the stadiums and watch us win more trophies,' Basadien said in a brief video on Sundowns' social media. 'I'm proud to be yellow.' Basadien could make his debut when Sundowns start their new season in the MTN8 quarter final against Richards Bay on August 3. His arrival will boost Miguel Cardoso's defensive options as they prepare for another demanding campaign. Masandawana family, I'm happy to be here and I can't wait for you guys to fill up the stadiums and watch us win more trophies Fawaaz Basadien, new Mamelodi Sundowns defender His experience both locally and internationally will be ideal for the Brazilians and add both quality and depth to their backline. Meanwhile, Stellies wished Fawaaz well at Sundowns. "The club extends their sincere gratitude to Fawaaz for his professionalism, leadership, and commitment during his time in the Maroon jersey. He departs with our appreciation and best wishes as he embarks on the next chapter of his career [at Sundowns]."
