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IOL News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Four clubs, four trophies: A historic end to the PSL season
Head coach Miguel Cardoso and Arthur Sales of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate beating Chippa United on Wednesday, and in doing so, retaining the Betway Premiership. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The curtain will fall on the PSL top-flight season this month, with all the domestic trophies already decided, results recorded, champions noted, and tales of heroic deeds to be recalled in years to come. The Betway Premiership, MTN8, Nedbank Cup and Carling Knockout were all won by different clubs. That's why senior football writer Mihlali Baleka profiles the four clubs that managed to get their hands on silverware this season. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Mamelodi Sundowns – Betway Premiership Sundowns secured a record-extending eighth consecutive league title, and 15th overall, after beating Chippa United 3–0 in their penultimate game on Wednesday. They lived up to their 'Bafana Ba Style' moniker, going about their business with swagger and class, breaking records along the way. Sundowns have scored 63 goals in the league this season so far – a record in the PSL-era, surpassing the previous best of 56. Coach Miguel Cardoso also deserves plaudits for getting the best out of his squad despite only taking charge late last year. Kaizer Chiefs – Nedbank Cup Chiefs ended their 10-year trophy drought by lifting the Nedbank Cup, becoming the first club in the top flight to win the country's premier knockout competition 14 times. Amakhosi reached this milestone with some breathtaking victories over their rivals, Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, in the semi-final and final, respectively. The Ke Yona Cup brought some much-needed relief to the club and its supporters, salvaging what had been a disappointing league campaign. Coach Nasreddine Nabi's side has been inconsistent in the league — they must win their next two matches to have any chance of finishing in the Top 8. Orlando Pirates – MTN8 The Sea Robbers became the first club to win the MTN8 in three successive seasons during the PSL-era, after defeating AmaZulu, Sundowns and Stellenbosch en route to the final. The Sea Robbers tried to carry that MTN8 momentum into their league campaign, but fell short, finishing runners-up to Sundowns on all three occasions. Outgoing coach Jose Riveiro will have fond memories of the MTN8, having won all three finals at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. With a new manager set to take the reins next season, they will have big shoes to fill, especially in maintaining the club's domestic cup pedigree. Magesi – Carling Knockout Dikwena tša Meetse achieved the improbable by winning the Carling Knockout at the first attempt, having only been promoted from the National First Division last season. Their triumph was historic. They defeated Pirates in the opening round before claiming victory over Sundowns in the final in Bloemfontein. Coach Clinton Larsen didn't last long enough to carry that form into the rest of the league campaign, as he was replaced by Owen Da Gama. 'RubberDoll', as Da Gama is affectionately known in football circles, has impressed in his long-awaited return to the dugout, ensuring the club is not embroiled in a relegation battle.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Champions again! How, when, where and what's to come for Mamelodi Sundowns
Ronwen Williams of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates the club's eighth consecutive Premiership triumph on Wednesday night. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Mamelodi Sundowns won the Betway Premiership championship with a resounding 3–0 victory over Chippa United at the Buffalo City Stadium on Wednesday night. The crowning feat meant that Sundowns had won South Africa's Premiership title for the eighth successive season, and the 15th overall, with one match to spare. The Brazilians have established an era of unprecedented success in the PSL-era. Their latest conquest is a testament to the club's consistency on the pitch under Miguel Cardoso. This is Cardoso's first major silverware since taking charge last December, following Manqoba Mngqithi's departure. Under his guidance, Sundowns have thus far played 27 league matches, winning 23, losing three, and drawing once. We look at some of the defining moments of Sundowns' journey to this historic triumph. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Best game this season? Orlando Pirates suffered a blow to their Premiership title aspirations as they went down 4–1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in February. It was the Soweto giants' third defeat in the league, and this allowed their Tshwane counterparts to open an imposing nine-point gap at the top of the log. Apart from Sundowns' biggest win, a 4–0 victory over Golden Arrows, this was arguably their finest league performance. Lucas Ribeiro of Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Best player this season Sundowns' best player was Lucas Ribeiro, who topped the charts by clocking the most playing minutes this season. The Brazilian star was at the heart of their success. Ribeiro's tireless work ethic did not go unnoticed, and Cardoso acknowledged this, 'Lucas is a game-changer for us; his fitness levels allow him to be on the field longer than most. His ability to influence matches is invaluable.' Crucial moment which tipped the Premiership scales After losing against Sekhukhune United, Pirates were 12 points adrift of the log-leaders Sundowns, who won their match against Richards Bay FC the same evening last month. That outcome effectively put the championship title beyond Pirates' reach. The Cardoso factor Cardoso steered the champions with innovative strategies and decisive leadership. The team adopted a winning mentality that resonates throughout the squad. His brave decisions shifted the dynamics on the pitch with bold formations and unexpected player selections. He challenged players to elevate their performances and adapt to varying match conditions. What's next? On Saturday, newly-crowned champions Sundowns will host Magesi United at Loftus Versfeld in their final Premiership match of the season. After the game, Sundowns will be presented with the new Betway Premiership trophy, designed by world-renowned South African artist Nelson Makamo. The champions will then prepare for a two legged CAF Champions League final against Pyramids. They will host the first match next week Saturday at home, before the return match in Cairo a week later. Thereafter, Cardoso and Co travel to the US to participate in the Fifa Club World Cup, where they will play in Group F against Ulsan from South Korea, German club Dortmund and Fluminense FC of Brazil.
The South African
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs: Why Nabi benched these two stars in Derby loss
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has set the record straight on the controversial late substitution of Thabo Cele and the absence of defensive stalwart Inacio Miguel during their 2-1 Soweto Derby loss to Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership. Despite leading 1-0 early on, Amakhosi surrendered their advantage at FNB Stadium, conceding twice to suffer their 12th league defeat of the season, a grim milestone that matches their worst-ever PSL-era record for most losses in a single campaign. The defeat stung even more as it marked Pirates' league double over Chiefs this season. When Thabo Cele entered the pitch with just 13 minutes remaining, many fans questioned the timing. Why wait so long to unleash a player who's been such a bright spark since his January arrival? Nabi addressed the concern head-on: 'For Cele, he is coming from an injury, and he hasn't fully trained, and he's been injured. That's why he wasn't fully fit, 100 per cent to start the game, to play the 90 minutes,' Nabi said as quoted by FARPost . Although not ready to start, Cele made an impact off the bench, replacing Nkosingiphile Ngcobo. The midfielder has clocked 14 appearances across all competitions and has quickly become a vital presence in the engine room. While Cele featured late, Inacio Miguel didn't step onto the pitch at all, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. The decision to start Zitha Kwinika instead led many to speculate that Nabi was resting key players for the upcoming Nedbank Cup final. But Nabi insists fitness, not strategy, dictated Miguel's exclusion: 'About Inacio, it is the same thing, he is coming from an injury. And he wasn't really fully fit to give a 100 per cent performance.' Miguel, a central figure in Chiefs' backline with 24 appearances and four goals, has even captained the side this season. His absence was felt as the defense crumbled under Pirates' pressure, especially after Bradley Cross saw red in added time. The heartbreak at FNB Stadium won't have time to linger. Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will clash again in the Nedbank Cup semi-final on Saturday, May 10 at Moses Mabhida Stadium. With redemption on the line and both Cele and Miguel possibly regaining fitness, Nabi faces immense pressure to get his selections right and reignite Amakhosi's fight. Stay tuned with The South African as we explain Why Kaizer Chiefs coach benched Miguel and Cele. Do you think Chiefs can bounce back in the cup clash? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
