From dominance to doubt ... the subtle cracks in Mamelodi Sundowns’ dynasty are showing

For nearly a decade, Mamelodi Sundowns have been the immovable force of South African football.

Their eight consecutive Betway Premiership titles tell a story of consistency, investment and dominance unmatched in the local game. Yet, the very empire that has dwarfed rivals for years is beginning to show subtle signs of wear.

Former coach Rhulani Mokwena once issued a warning that now feels prophetic: “Empires don’t collapse, they dilapidate bit by bit.

"We start taking small things for granted, taking the efforts of the players for granted, we start taking wins for granted and we start taking the results for granted because we think we are entitled to winning. That is the start of the demise of major football clubs.”

Mokwena’s words, spoken during his tenure at Chloorkop before leaving in 2022, ring louder today than ever. Sundowns, despite their continued league supremacy, have not lifted a domestic cup since 2022. Knockout football has exposed them, with their most recent setback coming at the hands of Orlando Pirates in the MTN8.

The contrast between the two giants is stark. Pirates, while not yet threatening Sundowns’ league dominance, have collected five cups in the last four years. They have mastered the art of winning on the day, something Sundowns once thrived on but now appear to stumble over. Cup competitions are often the true gauge of a club’s winning culture, and in that arena Sundowns no longer reign supreme.

The gap in quality between the two clubs is also closing. Pirates’ squad depth and their knack for turning up in decisive matches have shifted the perception of power in South African football. Where once Sundowns carried an aura of inevitability, the Buccaneers now stand as genuine equals in pressure situations.

Off the pitch, uncertainty compounds the concern. Contractual disputes involving two of Sundowns’ most influential players — Lucas Ribeiro and Khuliso Mudau — threaten to destabilise their carefully constructed machine.

Ribeiro’s goals and creativity have become indispensable, while Mudau’s consistency at right-back is the glue that holds their defensive shape. Losing either would not only weaken the squad but also send a message that the once unshakeable empire is vulnerable.

The danger for Sundowns lies not in sudden collapse but in the slow erosion Mokwena once described. League dominance can disguise the cracks, but without cup success, without hunger and with rivals growing in confidence, the decline may already be underway.

Sundowns are still kings of the marathon, but football’s greatest empires are measured by their ability to win everything, not just one competition. If Pirates continue to hoist trophies while Sundowns fall short in knockout football, history may look back on this era as the start of their slow unravelling.

The empire has not fallen yet. But the foundations are no longer as unshakable as they once seemed.

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