Mamelodi Sundowns have dominated the PSL for over a decade now, coasting to a record six successive league titles with relative ease.
And during their period of dominance, the Tshwane giants have put perennial underachievers Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to shame.
The two Soweto giants, largely still considered the biggest clubs in South African football, have been anything but consistent in the past few years.
They have watched from a distance with envy as Patrice Motsepe’s Brazilians continue to fill their trophy cabinet with silverware every season.
Not even the departure of their most successful coach, serial winner Pitso Mosimane, could derail Mamelodi Sundowns from their path to success.
They have been able to stay on the winning trail with the likes of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena, initially as co-coaches, before the latter took sole charge.
And under Mokwena’s sole guidance for the second half of the current campaign, Mamelodi Sundowns have been unbeatable in all competitions.
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The 36-year-old Mokwena has led the Brazilians to an impressive 22-match unbeaten run with 18 wins, four draws and no defeats.
But why have Mamelodi Sundowns been so clear of the chasing pack this season, especially the two traditional giants, Chiefs and Pirates?
SOLID DEFENCE
They sure can thrill, but the Brazilians do not tend to offer up many spills, and that’s been one of the reasons they are champions with six matches to go.
They boast by far the meanest defence in the league, conceding just nine goals in their 24 matches so far, the least any team has conceded this season.
And in comparison, Chiefs and Pirates have been a lot more generous to opposition attacks, conceding 27 and 17 goals, respectively.
LETHAL IN ATTACK
As any title-winning team has to be, Mamelodi Sundowns have been deadly in attack this season, scoring a total of 45 goals.
They have been the highest-scoring team in the league by a distance, outscoring Chiefs and SuperSport United, who are second on goals, by a whopping 16 goals.
POSSESSION FOOTBALL
Like most top teams in world football, Sundowns play a possession-based style that makes them easy on the eye but, more importantly, effective.
Mamelodi Sundowns always appear to have a numerical advantage over opponents and create passing triangles, making them a nightmare to defend against.
And more impressively, Mokwena’s side has been able to maintain this aesthetically pleasing style of play while getting results.
On the other hand, Chiefs and Pirates have played some eye-catching football in patches and have yet to get results consistently.