Mamelodi Sundowns are hunting down several records in the 2022/23 DStv Premiership campaign, writes Nick Said.
Mamelodi Sundowns have had arguably the most dominant league season since the formation of the National Professional Soccer League in 1971.
The Brazilians have been tearing up the DStv Premiership, setting record after record on what is an inevitable march to the title, the teams behind them unable to match their quality or find the consistency to mount a serious challenge.
There are several records Sundowns are looking to beat in the 2022/23 season; we list the current top marks.
MOST TITLE WINS IN A ROW AND MOST OVERALL
Sundowns already own both these records and have now extend their number of league title wins in a row to six. It has been pure dominance of the local scene since the 2017/18 season.
They currently have 16 league titles overall, two more than second- placed Kaizer Chiefs, and are set to extend that gap by another one. Worryingly for their rivals, they are seemingly getting stronger, and it could be a few more barren years ahead of the rest of the league.
MOST POINTS IN A 30-GAME SEASON
Another record that Sundowns already own, though they will be looking to beat it this term.
They set the current 30-game mark of 71 points in the 2015/16 season and have the record they jointly hold with Chiefs for a 34-game run of 75 points. The DStv Premiership initially started with 18 teams who played 34 games in
a season, but that number was reduced to 16 (and 30 games) for 2002/03.
MOST WINS IN A SEASON
In the PSL era overall, this record is 23, held by Sundowns, Chiefs and Manning Rangers, while in a 30-game season, The Brazilians hold the record with 22, also set in 2015/16.
You would think both records would be under threat following Sundowns’ impressive run of wins in 2022/23 that has put them in a position to improve on all these achievements.
MOST GOALS IN A SEASON
The overall PSL record here may be out of reach, with Chiefs the current holders following the massive 73 goals they scored in 34 game in the 1998/99 season.
The top mark during a 30-game campaign is the 56 Sundowns netted last season, another dominant year in which they beat all comers.
Sundowns have averaged a shade under two goals per game all season, which would put them roughly on pace to improve on that mark.
FEWEST GOALS CONCEDED IN A SEASON
The current mark is a paltry 11 goals conceded by Kaizer Chiefs in the 2003/04 season, when they won the league.
Sundowns only conceded seven times in their first 21 matches of this season, putting them on course to perhaps break this record mark.
Not surprisingly, Chiefs were also crowned the league champions when they set the current record.
MOST CLEAN SHEETS IN A SEASON
The current best mark is 21 held by Chiefs since 2003-04, but that is likely very much under threat.
Aside from the attacking threat, people forget how good Sundowns are as a defensive side and their ability to neutralise the opposition with their low block and the quality of their players at the back. In addition to that, they also have the undisputed best goalkeeper in the country in Ronwen Williams, who is the top mark for a gloveman with 18 clean sheets, breaking the record previously held by Moeneeb Josephs.
BEST GOAL DIFFERENCE
Sundowns set a new mark for biggest goal difference in the DStv Premiership last season with an astonishing +36, but remain on course to smash that.
The calculation is simply the numbers of goals the team conceded, subtracted from how many they scored, and is another illustration of their dominance.
