Mamelodi Sundowns continue to break records as they underline their dominance in the DStv Premiership.
On Monday, they sent their old record tumbling when they cruised to their 11th successive home win.
With that emphatic 5-2 win over Royal AM, they eclipsed their record of 10 straight wins at home, which dates back to the 1999 season.
FARPost looks at six more records that Coach Rulani Mokwena’s Sundowns could still obliterate with seven games left before the curtain comes down on the 2022/23 term.
1. EARLIEST TITLE WIN
Current record: 25 league matches
The runaway leaders Sundowns [59 points from 23 games], have a 20-point gap over SuperSport United [39 from 22]. Matsatsantsa face Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 18 March, at Orlando Stadium. Any result is possible there.
Should Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport fail to beat Pirates and Sundowns win their next game against Cape Town City, they would have won the DStv Premiership in record time – 24 games.
That would be a game better than the previous record of 25. In the 2021/22 season, they came close to breaking the record set by themselves in the 2006/07 season. But they fell a game short when they bagged the coveted title after 26 matches.
2. THE LEAGUE POINTS RECORD
Current record: 71 points
Having amassed 59 points already with seven games to go means they can reach the 80-point mark [in a 30-game season] if they win all their remaining games. That would beat their record in the 2015/16 season of 71 points.
Sundowns are still to play Cape Town City, Swallows FC, Golden Arrows, Richards Bay FC, AmaZulu FC, Marumo Gallants and Maritzburg United in their last game of the season.
Should they fail to win all the remaining games, four wins and a draw would still break the current record.
Themba Zwane’s post-match interview on SuperSport TV highlighted the hunger and desire to breach the 71-point mark.
“Even though we know that it’s almost over, but, as a team, there are certain points we’re fighting for. We want to break the record. We’re trying to push each and every game – we take each game at a time and, yeah, we trying to push to see how far we can go,” Zwane said.
3. BEST GOAL DIFFERENCE
Current record: Plus 36 goals
Their current goal difference [after 23 matches] of 36 equals the record they set last season. With the way their strikers are scoring and the way their defence has been watertight, this is undoubtedly a record they will smash.
They could even better the 34-game season record of 44, which was set by themselves in 1999.
4. FEWEST GOALS CONCEDED
Current record: 11 goals
This may be the most challenging record to break, as they have already conceded nine goals with seven games to go.
The Brazilians’ head coach Mokwena’s emphasis on keeping clean sheets stressed how important this is for them.
“We were super, so close to a clean sheet today [against Royal AM after conceding one goal],” Mokwena said in his television post-match interview.
The current record of 11 goals is held by Chiefs from the 2003/04 season.
5. BIGGEST TITLE-WINNING MARGIN
Current record: 16 points
If you thought the 2021/22 points margin [16 points ahead of Cape Town City] was huge, Mokwena’s Sundowns look set to outdo it.
They enjoy a 20-point gap ahead of second-placed SuperSport, who have a game in hand.
Expect them to smash that year-old record with the quality and depth in their dressing room.
6. PSL TITLE WINS
Current record: Record sixth consecutive title
This statistic will make onlookers feel the DStv Premiership is a Farmers’ League.
But that is not Masandawana’s problem, as they are on the verge of capturing the sixth successive title – the 16th overall league crown.
Hunt’s old SuperSport previously held the record after winning it thrice successively [2007/08 to 2009/10].
RELATED STORY: Mamelodi Sundowns break their own PSL record
