WATCH: Sundowns Storm Back to the Summit of Betway Prem

Mamelodi Sundowns secured a comfortable 4-1 victory over Chippa United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday evening.

A result that sees the Brazilians return to the summit of the Betway Premiership with 53 points from 23 matches.

READ: Cardoso: It Was Not An Easy Match

Ntsabeleng has expressed his gratitude towards his teammates and club after claiming the Man of the Match award.

“It means a lot to get this award. First of all, I would like to thank the Almighty for just giving me the opportunity to express the talent he’s given me,” Ntsabeleng said on SuperSport TV.

“We all know playing for Mamelodi Sundowns, it comes with pressure, and when you get a chance you have to take it, and I think I’m doing my best at that.

“I think I started a bit slow, but as I got used to the team everything went well.

“I think it’s the things we work on in training, just shooting outside the box, creating space for each other, complimentary runs as you can see it’s all coming together now.

“It means a lot for the fans to come out in numbers. We need them, it’s a title race and it’s a difficult one this year because all the teams are going head to head.

“But, I believe we gonna come out on top if we keep playing the way we are.”

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WATCH: Sundowns Storm Back to the Summit of Betway Prem

The Brazilians claimed a comfortable 4-1 victory over Chippa United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday evening.

The win takes Sundowns back up to the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 53 points after playing 23 matches.

READ: Ntsabeleng Backs Sundowns to Retain Betway Prem Title With Strong Form

Cardoso praised his players for responding to his halftime message and showing the necessary commitment to regain control, secure the result, and maintain focus ahead of their next fixture.

“It was not an easy match, as I said before the match there’s no PSL matches that are easy,” Cardoso told SuperSport after the game.

“The question is the boys understood the message, that goal before halftime of course brought a little bit of insecurity.

“But the message was well passed at halftime, how we needed to be committed and try to take the game in our hands, score the fourth goal that would finish the game and happy for them.

“The boys at the end of the day gave a lot; the starters also made a mission so look forward and there’s another one already on Tuesday.”

The post Cardoso: It Was Not An Easy Match appeared first on SportsClub.

READ: Cardoso: It Was Not An Easy Match

Goals from Marcelo Allende, Iqraam Rayners, Tashreeq Matthews and Brayan Léon cancelled out Sinoxolo Kwayiba’s goal to see Sundowns claim the win and all three points.

READ: Ntsabeleng Backs Sundowns to Retain Betway Prem Title With Strong Form

The win saw Sundowns move back to the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 53 points from 2 matches.

The Chilli Boys, meanwhile, remain in 13th place on the log with 20 after playing 23 matches.

WATCH: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Chippa United

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While his quality has never been in doubt, Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to sign Lebo Maboe inevitably raised eyebrows, largely because of his troubling injury history.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United midfielder arrived in Naturena as a free agent, but it would take nearly three months before he could make his official debut in the famous gold and black.

For a club desperate to accelerate its rebuild, patience was not a luxury Chiefs could always afford. Yet with Maboe, they believed the gamble was justified.

That belief was not shared lightly.

Both Sundowns and SuperSport, the two Tshwane giants Maboe previously represented, had explored the possibility of keeping him on their books.

His talent, after all, is proven at the highest level of the local game.

However, his tendency to spend long spells on the sidelines ultimately worked against him, forcing those clubs to make difficult decisions. Chiefs, though, saw opportunity where others saw risk.

When co-coach Cedric Kaze speaks about Maboe’s role since finally being integrated into the squad, it becomes clearer why AmaKhosi felt compelled to take that chance.

“He has an unbelievable football IQ,” Kaze explains.

“He can play any position, as a six, an eight, a 10, or even higher. If you want, he can play as a winger because he knows how to find those little spaces between people.”

“He understands where the spaces are and he is accurate in front of the box because he knows he has a very good shot, and the correct shot too.”

That intelligence, coupled with an elite work ethic, is a recurring theme among coaches who have worked with Maboe over the years.

Eric Tinkler, Pitso Mosimane, Rulani Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Gavin Hunt have all, at various points, spoken glowingly about his professionalism and commitment.

For Chiefs’ sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr, securing Maboe’s signature on a free transfer increasingly looks like a masterstroke, particularly in a squad still balancing youth and experience.

What was crucial after his arrival was ensuring Maboe could influence the team beyond just matchday contributions.

Chiefs’ return to continental football, via the Confederation Cup, marked their first appearance on the African stage in five years.

In that context, Maboe’s experience at Sundowns, where continental campaigns were routine rather than rare, became invaluable.

Maboe has played interclub football at the highest level on the continent.

Now, as a seasoned professional, he brings that know-how into a Chiefs dressing room still learning how to navigate Africa’s unique demands.

“And that’s what he’s very good at, being a team player and an extremely hard worker,” Kaze adds.

“It’s a very good thing to have him, especially because of his experience. In the Confederation Cup, he offers advice. He’s been there before. The conversations he has with the young players play a crucial role in our journey, because many of them haven’t played at this level.”

For Maboe himself, joining Chiefs carried weight well beyond footballing ambition.

In his first-ever interview since signing for the club, the 31-year-old spoke openly about the significance of returning “home” and what wearing the Chiefs jersey represents.

“It’s such an honour and a privilege for me to be back home and representing the team,” Maboe said.

“Kaizer Chiefs is a very big brand. Playing for a big team, there are always very high expectations, not just from a player’s point of view, but from the supporters as well.”

That sense of responsibility has shaped his mindset since arriving at Naturena. Maboe understands that Chiefs are not merely seeking stability but are chasing restoration. “As players, we also want to bring ourselves,” he continued.

“We want to leave the jersey in a better place than the state we found it in.” Despite his delayed debut, Maboe insists the environment within the squad has made his transition smoother. “The mood in the team is very positive,” he said.

“Everyone is positive. I’m fitting in very well with the team. I’m a people person, which makes it easy to get along with my teammates, and they’ve welcomed me very warmly.”

Fitness, however, remained the final hurdle. Missing more than two months of training, and a significant chunk of pre-season, tested both his patience and resilience.

“It’s not just going to come instantly, but I should be ready soon. You can imagine not being able to train with the team for over two months and missing a huge part of pre-season, it’s a big thing,” the player said at the time.

Now fully integrated, Chiefs are beginning to reap the benefits of that persistence. Maboe may not be the headline signing that ignites instant excitement, but his value lies in nuance, intelligence between the lines, leadership in the dressing room, and experience when it matters most.

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The Brazilians will resume their participation in the Betway Premiership when they welcome Chippa United to Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday.

Rayners comes into this fixture in a rich vein of form, having scored four goals and grabbed one assist in his last four matches.

The Sundowns forward highlighted a productive reunion in camp and clear direction from the coaching staff as they sharpen their preparations for their next fixture.

“For me, I think it was a good four days off because we spent time with our families, and when we arrived back, it was a good opportunity for us to be back together and focus on our next game,” Rayners told Sundowns Media Team.

“I think our preparations went well, especially when you’ve been off for four days.

“When we came back on the first day, the coach already knew what was on his head.

“He told us the day we left for the break that we would have to play a game on Friday so the guys know what to do.”

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To some, the surprise signing of Monnapule Saleng by Mamelodi Sundowns from rivals Orlando Pirates may be viewed as a power play, another flex from a club already dominant in South African football.

But according to coach Miguel Cardoso, the move is far more calculated than symbolic, a tactical decision aimed at strengthening attacking options as the Brazilians chase a ninth consecutive Betway Premiership title.

Context makes the transfer even more startling. Saleng began the season on loan at newly promoted Orbit College after falling out of favour at Pirates, and a January switch to Chloorkop seemed highly improbable.

Yet football has a habit of tearing up scripts and Sundowns have never shied away from rewriting the market. “He is an international player for South Africa, a qualified player,” Cardoso said, offering clarity on the thinking behind the deal.

“I remember coach José Riveiro speaking about Saleng at a moment when he was starting to struggle at Pirates in terms of playing or not playing and being separated from the group.

“I don’t need to speak about his quality. You know the quality the boy has. I will not speak about what happened with Pirates because that has nothing to do with me. What is important is that we wanted to sign a winger.”

On paper, Saleng certainly adds pedigree. But a closer look at Sundowns’ squad suggests his arrival may be more of a luxury than a necessity.

The club already boasts an abundance of attacking talent in wide areas, raising questions about how much value an additional winger realistically brings.

The move inevitably draws comparisons with the signing of Thembinkosi Lorch from Pirates in January 2024.

At the time, it was hailed as a major coup, but it later became evident that Sundowns could afford to sideline a player of Lorch’s calibre, literally, as competition for places intensified.

Cardoso, however, rejected the notion that Saleng’s arrival is surplus to requirements. Check out this stunning hat-trick by Monnapule Saleng for Orlando Pirates against Moroka Swallows!

“We wanted to sign a quick player, an aggressive player, a quality player, someone who can bring something different from what we already have,” he explained.

Is that justification enough? “If you compare, for example, the profile of a Nuno [Santos] with Saleng, it is a completely different profile of players,” Cardoso continued.

“But it’s important that the coach has different tools to manage different moments of the game, different opponents and different characteristics of matches.”

“The decision to bring Saleng was a sporting decision from the club, one that I obviously shared. We have expectations for the future, but we also have patience.”

That patience may be tested early. Saleng arrived at Chloorkop nursing an injury, with initial assessments ruling him out for at least six weeks, possibly longer.

His integration into the squad will therefore be gradual, offering Cardoso time to evaluate where, and if, he fits into an already well-oiled machine.

At his best, Saleng is electric, confident, direct and fearless, a fully fit and firing version of the winger is capable of turning matches on their head.

But football history is littered with talented players who struggled to assert themselves in squads overflowing with quality.

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Amakhosi’s clash against Orbit College was initially supposed to take place on Tuesday, April 7.

However, the fixture between the teams will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and has been rescheduled for Monday, April 6.

The Soweto giants will come into this fixture sitting in fourth place in the Betway Premiership standings, with 36 points from 20 matches.

“Kaizer Chiefs’ upcoming away match against Orbit College has been rescheduled. Originally set to take place in Rustenburg, North West province, the fixture will now be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape,” Chiefs said in a statement.

“In addition to the venue change, the date and kick-off time have also been adjusted. The match, initially scheduled for Tuesday, 7 April at 19:30, will now take place on Easter Monday, 6 April at 15:00.

“The decision to move the game was made at the request of the home team, Orbit College, due to the unavailability of the Royal Bafokeng stadium and to better accommodate the expected crowd. Ticketing information will be shared in due course.”

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The winners were selected by an independent panel of PSL-accredited journalists and broadcasters.

Cardoso secures back-to-back Coach of the Month awards after guiding Mamelodi Sundowns to four wins from four matches, all crucial results that have strengthened their bid in the title race.

He edged out strong competition from Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and AmaZulu FC head coach Arthur Zwane, who has guided AmaZulu into the top three after winning two of their three fixtures in March.

Pirates forward Mofokeng retains the Betway Premiership Player of the Month award following an impressive run of form.

Building on his momentum from the previous month, the attacker has continued to play a key role in Pirates’ attacking play.

Across four matches, Mofokeng recorded four goals, including the first hat-trick of his professional career against TS Galaxy.

Chippa United’s Konqobe claims his first Betway Premiership Monthly Award, winning Goal of the Month for his outstanding strike against Magesi FC at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane on 14 March.
From well outside the box, Konqobe produced a powerful and precise finish, a goal already being recognised as one of the standout strikes of the season.

As the proud title sponsor of the Premiership, Betway continues to enhance the fan experience through initiatives such as S’bonise & Win, where supporters attending matches in their club colours can win up to R20,000.

The Dial Up games further offer active Betway account holders the opportunity to win up to R50,000 at selected fixtures.

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The 21-year-old netted his first senior hat-trick for Pirates in their 6-0 thrashing of the Rockets in the Betway Premiership.

The Sharpeville-born winger has now taken his goal tally to eight while registering six assists in 28 appearances across all competitions.

Mofokeng said this performance not only boosts his statistics but also his confidence, highlighting the importance of perseverance and the team’s hard work in converting their chances.

“It is very special, I have been waiting for this moment. it has been a while since I have had a moment like this. I have not been scoring as much as I would have liked,” Mofokeng told SuperSport TV.

“I think this hat-trick will improve my statistics and that’s what I am playing for. It is very important because it will boost my confidence and encourage me to keep going without giving up.

“We’ve been working hard on converting our chances, and today it really paid off.”

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The 21-year-old has not been a regular starter for Amakhosi but he has managed to feature 15 times for the club, while scoring one goal and registering one assist.

Duba lasted 62 minutes in their 2-0 win over Magesi FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban before he was replaced by Mfundo Vilakazi.

The win sees Amakhosi move up to fourth place in the Betway Premiership standings with 36 points after 20 matches.

Kaze believes opportunities for players who have had limited game time are crucial for building confidence and strengthening the squad as Amakhosi push to finish the campaign strongly in the Betway Premiership.

“It’s very important, a player like Wandile Duba didn’t get a lot of time playing and this is going to give him enough confidence to go forward,” Kaze told SuperSport TV after the match.

“As well, it’s a good thing that there are players that are coming along into this end of the season because we’re going to need everyone to finish strong.”

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