There has been hope that the DStv Premiership title race would be competitive but reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns have raised the bar with a club record that matches Orlando Pirates and threatens to eclipse Kaizer Chiefs' history too.
Sundowns extended their perfect start to the season to five matches won after edging Richards Bay 1-0 on Wednesday as they won their first five league games of the season for the first time in the club's history.
READ: 'Billiat Did Nothing, Castillo Is What Chiefs Needed'
More worryingly for the Tshwane giants' rivals, of the two teams in three to win at least the first five league games of the season, Orlando Pirates in 2002/3 and Kaizer Chiefs in 2014/15, they both went on to win the league title, according to stats by Opta Jabu.
If Sundowns continue with their winning streak and rivals drop points, there could be a prospect of the Brazilians winning the league title with far more points and league games to spare.
Masandawana will now be spurred on by chasing the league record of consecutive wins from the start of the season of eight wins, a record held by Chiefs, who achieved the feat in the 2014/15 campaign when they last won the league title under former coach Stuart Baxter.
Of the six consecutive league titles won, Sundowns had strong competition in four of those seasons, as they beat Pirates by only five points in the 2017/18 campaign, edged the Buccaneers again by two points in the 2018/19 season and narrowly won by two points over Amakhosi in the 2019/20.
However, since the Brazilians won the league title by 13 points over second-placed AmaZulu in the 2020/21 season, which coincided with the new coaching regime after former coach Pitso Mosimane left the club just before the start of that campaign, they have been relentless in amassing points, as they won the league title by 16 points in the 2021/22 season and repeated the same feat in the 2022/23 campaign.
READ: Odense To Suss Out Saleng's Pirates Value?
Stand A Chance To Win The 1 of 4 Sundowns Home Shirt
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
