The rise and rise of South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns

The club won promotion to the top-flight in 1983 when they were owned by a pair of doctors from Mamelodi township, on periphery of Pretoria and coached by Englishman Dave Barber, who had moved to South Africa in the mid-60s.

They struggled initially but after two years were bought by Zola Mahobe, a businessman from Soweto whose wealth seemed to have no limits.

He bought the best players for the club, hired the flamboyant Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala as coach and overnight Sundowns were transformed into a glamour side, even changing their kit to copy the yellow and blue of Brazil, hence their nickname ‘The Brazilians”.

Among a phalanx of big-name signings was striker Mosimane from Jomo Cosmos.

Sundowns got to their first final in 1986 and as an incentive for them to win, Mahobe promised the squad a trip to the next year’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

When they beat Cosmos, he duly kept his promise and Sundowns were in the crowd to watch Coventry City upset Tottenham Hotspur.

They also got to play a clandestine match against Crystal Palace, a cloak and dagger affair to avoid any fallout from the sports boycott.

But Mahobe was arrested not long thereafter. It turned out his personal wealth came from his mistress, Tebello “Snowy” Moshoeshoe, a bank teller who worked the system well enough to deposit millions in various fictitious accounts.

The pair were jailed and Standard Bank became the owners, quickly selling to white businessman Solly Krok, who had made his fortune from the cosmetics industry.

He kept up the purchase of star players as Sundowns won a first league title in 1988 and from there on remained a frontrunning team in all South African competitions.

Up to then, Chiefs and Pirates had their pick of the best players but new financial muscle ended their gluttony in the marketplace.