When Sekhukhune United host defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the opening game of the new DStv Premiership seasons at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Friday, history will not be on their side.
Over the last decade, only one champion has made a losing start to the defence of their title … and it has not been Sundowns, who have dominated the championship over the past 10 years.
Here is the Supersport.com look back at the last decade of opening day matches for the defending league champion:
2022-23 Mamelodi Sundowns: Few sides relish away trips to Mother City at the best of times and especially not for their first league game of the season but Sundowns quickly set out their stall and reminded everyone of their prowess by beating Cape Town City 2-0, with Aubrey Modiba and Themba Zwane scoring within two minutes of each other just past the hour mark.
2021-22 Mamelodi Sundowns: Fans were still banned from the stadium at the start of the season and it meant a subdued atmosphere for Sundowns as they took on Benni McCarthy’s AmaZulu at Loftus, in a matchup of the previous season’s top two finishers, winning a tight game through a Zwane penalty.
2020-21 Mamelodi Sundowns: The duo of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena were in charge of their first league game together, after Pitso Mosimane’s departure for Egypt, and it was the perfect start for the new ‘Downs bosses as they thumped Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 at Soccer City in a match played without spectators because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2019-20 Mamelodi Sundowns: A local derby marked the start of the season for Sundowns and Sibusiso Vilakazi, in the first half, and Zwane, near the final whistle, scored as they beat SuperSport United 2-0 in Atteridgeville.
2018-19 Mamelodi Sundowns: Sundowns were handed a tough start in defence of their 2018 title, against Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld and it turned out to be a rather lukewarm game as Ramahlwe Mphahlele scored first for Chiefs against his old club, before Ricardo Nascimento netted the equaliser from the penalty spot.
2017-18 Bidvest Wits: Wits’ first-ever league win in 2017 was the fifth of Gavin Hunt’s coaching career but he was suspended when the new league season started, with his side losing 1-0 at Cape Town City, coached by McCarthy, one of Hunt’s former players.
2016-17 Mamelodi Sundowns: Mosimane’s side were coming off a dream season, having won the African Champions League, the African Super Cup and the domestic championship by 14 points, but started the new campaign in moderate fashion as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
2015-16 Kaizer Chiefs: Chiefs had a new coach in Steve Komphela, who was replacing Stuart Baxter after he finished off with the 2015 league crown, and their first game of a new era started with a goalless draw away against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
2014-15 Mamelodi Sundowns: The Brazilians ended a six-season drought as they were crowned 2014 champions, edging Chiefs by two points, and began the defence of their title with a 1-1 home draw against Maritzburg, even after Katlego Mashego had handed them a second minute lead.
2013-14 Kaizer Chiefs: AmaKhosi had taken the 2013 title by a single point from Platinum Stars and were immediately back to winning ways at the start of the next campaign as Bernard Parker scored early to ensure a 1-0 away victory against Mpumalanga Black Aces.
