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New Stars Are Born

The DStv Premiership has once again concluded with several games to spare, Mamelodi Sundowns sauntering to a seventh championship in succession and rendering the opposition almost nonexistent. By Nkareng Matshe.

Sundowns’ crowning moment couldn’t have come in a more relevant fixture – their match against supposed giants Kaizer Chiefs on 2 May at FNB Stadium. Needing just three points to clinch the title, the Brazilians hammered Amakhosi 5-1, illustrating the gulf in class between sides that just four years ago were fighting for the title right up to the final day of the season.

Rulani Mokwena’s Downs have now opened a huge chasm, not only against freefalling Chiefs, but also the rest of the opposition.

Surprisingly, however, a semblance of resistance and consistency was seen from an unlikely source: Stellenbosch. The Cape Winelands side offered a challenge of some sort, albeit belatedly, embarking on an impressive winning streak that, in the end, delayed Sundowns’ crowning.

Steve Barker’s men were, at the time of writing, set for a historic second-place finish that comes with qualification for the CAF Champions League. Their effort is notable in that it comes after the team sold some of its prominent players in the last two years: Junior Mendieta departed to join Sundowns, while Sibongiseni Mthethwa followed Ashley du Preez to Chiefs.

New stars were born at Stellies, as Devin Titus, Ismael Toure and Jayden Adams formed the fulcrum of the team alongside red-hot striker Iqraam Rayners. Stellies already clinched the Carling Knockout – their first piece of silverware – and were rather unfortunate to lose to Sundowns in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup. Two cup finals and a second-place finish on the log would have made this a great season for them, but it was still a good return nonetheless.

Pretenders to Sundowns’ throne included Orlando Pirates who, like Stellies, also mounted a belated challenge, but in truth, lost the title the moment Sundowns beat them inside Orlando Stadium last year. SuperSport United just couldn’t find form in 2024, and Gavin Hunt’s team weren’t in the race in the first place after losing half their top players to Sundowns in the last two years.

STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 05: Iqraam Rayners of Stellenbosch FC and Khuliso Mudau of Sundowns during the Nedbank Cup semi final match between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at Danie Craven Stadium on May 05, 2024 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

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