Mamelodi Sundowns pre-season fixtures
South African champions have begun their preparations for the 2024/2025 season. Their pre-season tour will include fixtures against teams from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The champions will feel that they have a lot of work ahead of them since the departure of head coach Rhulani Mokwena.
Mamelodi Sundown's Pre-season
Team News
This transfer window has seen a few high profile figures leave Mamelodi Sundowns, most notably their award winning head coach Rulani Mokwena. He saw the club through 91 matches, winning 60, losing 9 and playing out to 22 draws. he used 54 players and averaged 2,22 point per game. He has now been appointed by Wydad Casablanca as their head coach, his contract is expected to run until June of 2027. He is not the only man walking out of the door this transfer window, with Gaston Sirino also having left the club. The wide man who joined the Brazilians in January of 2018, has made a name for himself at Mamelodi Sundowns. During his time with the club he has lifted the African Football League, MTN8, Nedbank Cup and the DSTV Premiership on six occasions. He is decorated and with his next destination not yet disclosed. Fans will be following his story very closely.
Away from the headline, the departures of Rulani and Gaston are not the only departures from the club this transfer window. Brian Onyango, Abubeker Nasir, and Bonging Zungu have all been released. Sifiso Ngobeni is moving on to Amazulu FC, Junior Mendieta has moved on to Volos and Thabiso Kutumela has moved on to Richards Bay FC.
Looking forward to the future, the club will be managed by the dynamic duo of Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela. Manqoba has been with Sundowns in various roles since 2014, while Steve Komphela first joined the club in 2020 and left in 2023 to go coach Swallows and then Golden Arrows before finding himself in the Sundowns dug out yet again. The winds of change are blowing strongly at Mamelodi Sundowns. You can expect them to be a diffrent outfit this season, I don't know if that will be for the best or will they find themselves going through some tough times without award winning head coach, Rulani Mokwena.
SV Sandhausen vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Tuesday, 16 July | 17:30
It will come as a shock to many that Mamelodi Sundowns lost their opening game of the preseason against German Outfit SV Sandhausen. Many have opted to highlight that the German side plays in the third tier of German football. In true pre season fashion, a number of players who are not regularly named in the Sundowns starting eleven featured in this game. Goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, Zuko Mduyelwa, Lesiba Nku, Lebohang Maboe all got a start alongside youngsters,, Siyabonga Mabena, Ntando Nkosi and Malibongwe Khoza. Plenty of miss placed passes caused sundowns to loss possession in key areas around the pitch.
Dynamo Kyiv vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Wednesday 17 July 2024
Dynamo Kyiv is the more warmed up of the two sides. They started their pre-season on the second of July with a match against Inhulets which they won by 4-0. They will be a real test for Mamelodi Sundowns, especially considering that they finished second behind Shakhtar in their Ukrainian Premier League. Sundowns may opt to step out with a stronger team against Dynamo, than the team they assembled in their first game of the preseason.
Tuesday 23 July 2024
Cardiff had a disappointing championship campaign in the 2023/2024 season. They finished mid table on 62 points and positioned in 12th overall. They have one of the worst defensive records in the championship last season, conceding 70 goals in 46 matches. They will play a Welsh League Cup fixture against Afan Lido and a Club friendly against HSV before they face Mamelodi Sundowns on the 23rd of July 2024.
Friday 26 July 2024
Al-Arabi had a decent season last time out in the star league. They managed 42 goals in 22 matches and finished sixth in the Qatar Stars League. This match will be the first of two matches that Sundowns will play in the same day.
Friday 26 July 2024
Al Hilal will start their preseason preparations against Mamelodi Sundowns when they meet on the 26th of July 2024. Al-Halal are the reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League. They finished the season on 96 points and with a 101 goals scored in the league. They also conceded 23 goals, making them the best defensive and offensive side in the league. Al-Hilal have Aleksander Mitrovic, Neymar, Sergej Milinkovic-savic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and Bono amongst the long list of stars who represent the club. Al-Hilal won't be taking this match lightly because they will playing Al-Ahly in the Saudi Super cup soon after this tie has been played.
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