As Mamelodi Sundowns took to the field for their opening PSL match on Saturday against SuperSport United, five of their 18-man squad were sporting new jersey numbers for the upcoming campaign with one player taking Andile Jali’s number five shirt from last season.
In the goalkeeping department, Reyaad Pieterse had changed from his number 31 of last season, whilst Mosa Lebusa returned to his preferred squad number from his Ajax Cape Town days. Also switching squad numbers were Gaston Sirino, Keletso Makgalwa and Motjeka Madisha.
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Pieterse went from number 31 to 30. Sirino switched from number 26 to the traditional playmaker jersey number 10, whilst Makgalwa, having been number 35 before his loan spell at Maritzburg United, took Sirino’s old number 26. Motjeka Madisha moved to Mosa Lebusa’s number two jersey from number 32.
Lebusa moved to the number five top that he wore for the Urban Warriors, taking Andile Jali’s number from last season. The midfielder wore number 15 at both Orlando Pirates and KV Oostende but when he arrived as Chloorkop, the jersey was already registered and being worn by Lucky Mohomi. The new season could see 'Gattuso' go back to his favourite number with Mohomi being forced to change.
New signings Sammy Seabi and Mauricio Affonso are waiting to given their new jersey numbers, but the latter could take the now-vacant number nine shirt after Cuthbert Malajila’s departure.