Mamelodi Sundowns will make their best ever start to a Premier Soccer League season if they beat Richards Bay in their next DStv Premiership clash on Wednesday.
The Brazilians have never won their opening five games of the league season and only once before have taken 12 points from 12 at the start of a campaign, though they failed to go on and win the league on that occasion.
Victories this term over Sekhukhune United (2-1), Kaizer Chiefs (2-1), Lamontville Golden Arrows (4-0) and Chippa United (2-0) have got coach Rulani Mokwena’s side off to a flier and already looking far too strong for the chasing pack in the DStv Premiership.
For instance, they have opened up an 11-point lead over Chiefs, albeit that they have played a game more, and an eight-point advantage on Orlando Pirates with the same caveat attached.
The only other time in PSL history that Sundowns won their opening four games was in the 2010/11 season under Spanish coach Antonio Lopez, before the lost their fifth game 2-1 to eventual champions Pirates.
They did in fact win nine of their first 11 league games (L2) that term for an impressive 27 out of a possible 33 points but ended up finishing in fourth as managed only another 31 from the next 19 matches.
Pirates won the league title, pipping Ajax Cape Town on goal-difference on the final day.
It seems unlikely Sundowns will fail this time round, even at this early stage, as the current team is made of sterner stuff and the incredible depth they have in their squad makes it much easier to cover for injuries.
There have been eight occasions where Sundowns claimed 10 points (W3 D1) from their first four games of the season, and last year they won the DStv Premiership by a joint record 16 points despite taking only seven from their first four games.
Saturday’s win over Chippa United also extends Mokwena’s unbeaten run in the league since he became sole head coach. That now stretches to 24 games (W18 D6) dating back to October last year.
POINTS FROM SUNDOWNS’ FIRST FOUR GAMES OF THE PSL SEASON
2023/24: 12 points
2022/23: 7 points
2021/22: 10 points
2020/21: 10 points
2019/20: 8 points
2018/19: 7 points
2017/18: 9 points
2016/17: 7 points
2015/16: 4 points
2014/15: 4 points
2013/14: 8 points
2012/13: 3 points
2011/12: 10 points
2010/11: 12 points
2009/10: 5 points
2008/09: 7 points
2007/08: 5 points
2006/07: 7 points
2005/06: 10 points
2004/05: 7 points
2003/04: 2 points
2002/03: 10 points
2001/02: 3 points
2000/01: 10 points
1999/00: 10 points
1998/99: 7 points
1997/98: 10 points
1996/97: 4 points
