In the South African football landscape, no club spends as much money in the transfer market as Mamelodi Sundowns. At one stage, they earned the nickname "Mamelodi Sign-downs" among rival fans as quite a few of their acquisitions flopped spectacularly. Perhaps the most famous example was Jeremy Brockie, who was signed to finish off all the chances the team were spurning, but who instead scored just one league goal in his time at Chloorkop. Back then, Pitso Mosimane was all-powerful on the recruitment front, with the decorated coach saying, "I brought Kermit Erasmus at Sundowns. I signed all those players. All of them ... Shalulile, everybody. I personally recruited players, brought them to the team." He had said before that, "When Manyisa comes‚ I am the one who says Manyisa must come. There is nobody somewhere saying he must come. I make the team list and substitutes‚ and I am in charge." Things are a bit different now with Sporting Director Flemming Berg. So, Soccer Laduma takes a look at the recent signings to ascertain how many currently rank as a SUCCESS or a FLOP and how many have the JURY STILL OUT tag hanging above their heads.
The last few Pitso signed, and used
We know Pitso Mosimane left Mamelodi Sundowns quite abruptly after a big recruitment drive in his final transfer window. But, before that, let's look at some of his additions that he both hand-picked and that he got the chance to use on the pitch. Of the 21 additions in the three seasons prior to his departure, a fair few were successful and many also flopped. We could probably say that Gaston Sirino, Rivaldo Coetzee, Andile Jali, Mosa Lebusa, Lebohang Maboe and Lyle Lakay were (or are) success stories, whilst some acquisitions were major flops! Aubrey Ngoma, George Lebese, Jeremy Brockie, Phakamani Mahlambi and Emiliano Tade were some of the more high-profile disappointments. In addition, who can forget Tokelo Rantie's brief spell at Downs or Toni Silva's explosive departure? And then we have Nyiko Mobbie, the one player whose arrival "Jingles" openly did not have any input in! We can say that things were very up and down and the ones who did succeed all happened to be very multi-functional players with physical gifts such as strength, intensity or pace.
Jingles' last dance
Prior to his departure in September 2020, Mosimane oversaw a huge number of signings even though he didn't get to spend much time working with them. He spoke about those additions leaving the Brazilians in a good place. That final transfer splurge saw upwards of R50 million spent on transfer fees. Of course, Peter Shalulile is an epic success and Mothobi Mvala has become a key man over the last eight months. You'd have to say that the Bidvest Wits trio of Gift Motupa, Ricardo Goss and Haashim Domingo have all been flops. The same goes for George Maluleka, Lesedi Kapinga and probably Kermit Erasmus, who started well but faded badly and left on a sour note. Two gems picked up by the coach were Khuliso Mudau, an overly aggressive utility player at Black Leopards who has become a star, and Aubrey Modiba, another one shining brightly for club and country.
Recent signings – Too early to cast judgement
It is very tempting to cast judgement on new signings just a few months after arriving. However, we know that the Chloorkop-based side has quite a unique game model and acclimatisation to those new methods can take upwards of six months. The very early indications on the additions in the last two transfer windows are as follows.
Junior Mendieta
Whilst a huge talent, he is struggling for minutes and could have his route to game-time blocked even more after the business done this January.
Lesiba Nku
A smart addition to give some natural width to the squad and he has played well at times, but his minutes have started to dry up significantly.
Lucas Ribeiro Costa
What a signing by the recruitment team! The Brazilian looks born toplay for, well, the Brazilians and he has scored and assisted goals constantly since the beginning of the season. He can arguably already be called a SUCCESS.
Thapelo Maseko
The talent, youth and pace is there to be a big success. He just needs to find a path to weekly starts in his best role as a winger. That isn't always easy in the team's narrow system.
Bathusi Aubaas
This addition came from nowhere, possibly on the back of an outstanding performance against Morocco for Bafana Bafana. Again, the key is regular minutes for him and also a consistent role. He has been seen as a defender at times and may not be technical enough to play for the Tshwane giants in midfield.
Matías Esquivel
Let's wait and see. The R46.7 million price tag is enormous, but he should give quality and class to midfield.
Zuko Mdunyelwa
With Thapelo Morena no longer seen as a fullback in the Sundowns system, they needed cover for Mudau in that hybrid, narrower role. Mdunyelwa looks a good fit and could become a gem like Grant Kekana Mudau.
Tashreeq Matthews
The former Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs) man has been excelling in Scandinavia and comes back to local shores as a 23-year-old. Tall, elegant and a brilliant ball-carrier, he could excel for the defending champions. His best position is a bit unclear, but perhaps playing an inside-left role behind Peter Shalulile is where he will shine and earn Bafana Bafana recognition.
Thembinkosi Lorch
The league's Football of the Season in 2019, Lorch's class is evident whenever he is fit. For Orlando Pirates, we saw big contributions in cup games and Soweto derbies. If the club can keep him focused and injury-free, he could be the man to eventually replace Themba Zwane, although age is not particularly on his side.
This is how they have done…
Ronwen Williams
His signing came at a slightly surprising time because Denis Onyango had excelled the season before. Williams has somehow managed to take the pure goalkeeping work to an ever higher level, consistently making huge saves and saving two penalties en route to winning the African Football League. Aside from shot-stopping, his ball-playing ability has been a game changer. He has drawn international attention for being 40 yards from goal during build-up play and has genuinely been like an extra outfield player at times.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. No one in their right mind would dispute that fact.
Sipho Mbule
At the time, this was a surprising signing because his performances had declined at SuperSport United. What was never in doubt was Mbule's talent and skill. His first season was a slow burner and he only started four times up until March. He ended the season really well, not least in CAF Champions League matches. This term he hasn't featured much (just four starts), but he was very good in the win over Orlando Pirates.
VERDICT: JURY STILL OUT. If he can stay fit and get regular games, the skilful midfielder will surely end up as a success. So far, he hasn't performed consistently enough to be called a success story.
Terrence Mashego
After getting inured soon after his arrival, Mashego only featured in eight games in his first season. He ended the campaign well and has seemingly won over Rhulani Mokwena this season, featuring on 17 occasions (seven starts) and often looking back to his best. His upturn in form even led to a spot in the Bafana Bafana Afcon squad. This signing made sense because he bombs forward constantly, something that suits Downs' style of play.
VERDICT: JURY STILL OUT. Purely because of a lack of regular minutes, we can't say yet that this signing has worked out. The signs are promising, though.
Abdelmounaim Boutouil
Due to surgery, we didn't see the Moroccan defender at all in the first 24 league encounters of the season. After that, he quickly established himself in central defence and was relatively flawless. This term, he has moved to a hybrid role as a left/centre-back in different phases of play. He was crucial to the AFL success, scoring against Wydad Casablanca. In the league, it's five clean sheets in seven ties this season, but an injury has curtailed his progress somewhat.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. He may not have played all that much due to injury, but his impact has been huge. Without doubt, this addition has been an excellent move.
Bongani Zungu
The experienced campaigner arrived on a free transfer from Amiens SC. He was out of shape initially and took many months to shed weight and look physically sharp again. His first season only saw him start seven times and none of those were in the really big games, instead featuring as a rotation option. That has continued this term with 20 outings but with 16 of those from the bench. He's had the odd impressive display but also the leg-breaking tackle on Bernard Parker.
VERDICT: FLOP. Signing "Ben 10" didn't make sense with Rivaldo Coetzee and Teboho Mokoena around. He has effectively been an expensive fringe player, or a substitute to see out results.
Bradley Ralani
The veteran winger was deep into his 30s at the time the Tshwane giants acquired him for around R5 million. His 18 months at the club were not worth the investment. Although he was a good professional and had flashes of his undoubted class, most of those good moments came in his first few months at the club. Last term, he only started three times and had no natural role in the diamond formation.
VERDICT: FLOP. Due to his cost, his age and his lack of minutes, this is a signing that did not work out at all.
Neo Maema
This acquisition came somewhat out of the blue with Mokwena saying he had come to replace the left foot of Percy Tau and Keagan Dolly. His first 500 minutes for the Brazilians in the league produced three goals and five assists. He started 34 games in his second season, excelling in a deeper role on the sides of the diamond. This season has been a lot tougher for him with little involvement in recent months.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. Maema was one of the best players in the PSL last season and is extremely unfortunate not to have been handed a number of Bafana Bafana caps since joining the side.
Thabiso Kutumela
Downs signed "Kutu" after a 14- goal season for Maritzburg United. He was also getting regular national team outings during that time at the Team of Choice. His first term was alright, scoring five goals and assisting a further six as he played a big part in the MTN8 success. His minutes evaporated as the campaign progressed and last term saw Cassius Mailula take his spot. He played under 400 minutes without scoring or assisting at all.
VERDICT: FLOP. Things just haven't worked out, partly because there wasn't a clear plan of what position he would play. He didn't suit being a split striker and this addition probably wasn't properly thought through.
Sifiso Ngobeni
After some good but unspectacular form at Bloemfontein Celtic, Sundowns brought him to the club. He barely got a kick in his first season and was sent on loan. His second season had him more involved with six league starts due to heavy rotation. He hasn't been in the plans this season and has now been loaned out to AmaZulu FC.
VERDICT: FLOP. Whilst a steady enough player, the team has had about half-a-dozen different left backs during the last two campaigns. This signing made zero sense with Aubrey Modiba, Lyle Lakay and other options blocking his pathway to minutes.
Etiosa Ighodaro
The powerful Nigerian has spent three seasons on loan from the Chloorkop-based outfit, doing well for University of Pretoria, Chippa United and now SuperSport. His physical style probably doesn't suit Masandawana, so this addition was more of a punt/may-as-well kind of acquisition. It's doubtful if he will ever be seen in a Sundowns shirt.
VERDICT: FLOP. Whilst a good player, he hasn't contributed anything to his parent club in almost three years. There is still a remote possibility that he could change the direction of his Downs career, though.
Katlego Mohamme
The left-footed defender arrived at the club with a plethora of experience at junior international level but none in the topflight at club level. He only managed three starts on loan at Swallows FC (now Moroka Swallows) and the grand total of his involvement in a Sundowns shirt is seven minutes.
VERDICT: FLOP. This signing made absolutely no sense and his failure at Chloorkop does not come as a surprise. Let's see if he gets any game-time on loan at Sekhukhune United.
Teboho Mokoena
The Bafana star joined the side in January of the 2021/22 season. He was eased in to life at the club and often played deeper alongside Coetzee. Last season, he exploded as one of the team's key players and won the PSL Footballer of the Season award. He made the previously key Andile Jali a distant memory, converting full-time into a holding midfielder but also having the odd game on the side of the diamond. His passing, defensive work and everything else was near faultless and his form has remained very strong this season.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. "Tebza" was an incredible signing and could give Sundowns another seven-eight top years, if he isn't grabbed by a big club in Europe. This addition was perfect because he was eased into the club and the Tshwane giants had a clear plan to move him into a deep-lying playmaker role once he was settled.
Grant Kekana
After signing a pre-contract, he joined on a free transfer ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. Having been largely a right back at Matsatsantsa, he was instantly moved into a central role at Chloorkop. He kept eight clean sheets in a row in the league right away and was eventually named as a PSL Defender of the Season nominee. His second season saw 11 clean sheets in 16 league starts and just three goals leaked in 14 starts when playing as a centre-back. He has continued to be incredibly reliable, whether as a right back to cover Khuliso Mudau or in the heart of defence, and his Afcon selection was a reward for his consistency.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. This signing was a gem. Cheap, under the radar and with a clear plan of where he will play. Bravo to whoever was behind this transfer!
Divine Lunga
Prior to his arrival, the Zimbabwean had arguably been the best-performing left back in the PSL for Golden Arrows. His first year at Downs saw 12 games and 797 minutes played, including late-season starts at centre-back against Royal AM and Kaizer Chiefs. His second season was spent back on loan at Abafana Bes'thende and he wasn't registered for the first half of this term.
VERDICT: FLOP. As it stands today, Lunga is a flop. His new status as a local could hand him a new lease of life at the club, though. He could still become a successful signing, such is his talent.
Abubaker Nasir
The pacey Ethiopian looked really good in his early outings after officially arriving at Chloorkop. He scored in three of his first four appearances and looked direct, a good finisher and a good dribbler. Sadly, all sorts of injuries have completely stalled his progress. Links have begun which suggest he may be loaned out or even released once he has overcome his injury hell.
VERDICT: JURY STILL OUT. Many players would be handed FLOP status had they been injured so much and played so little. However, Nasir has shown the class to make it at Sundowns if he can get himself on the pitch.
Pavol Safranko
The Slovak striker only spent one season at the Brazilians, scoring a respectable nine goals with a strike every 144 minutes of action. He gave a lot to the team in terms of pressing and providing a Plan B and he earned praise during the campaign for his work. It was therefore a big surprise to see his long-term contract terminated after just one year with the club having spent R12 million on his services. In the end, the foreign quota and Mokwena saying he lacked "speed, guile and creativity" were what put the nails in the coffin.
VERDICT: FLOP. We can't deem someone who was released after one year for footballing reasons as a success, even though he actually did a decent enough job for Sundowns. Why did they sign a target man if he didn't suit the style of play? That's the key question.
Erwin Saavedra
The Bolivian signed for the side in February 2022 and has managed just 10 appearances after his R12 million move. This is a player who had started against some of the world's top teams at international level, but there wasn't a clear position for him at Sundowns. As a wide player, his best bet would have been to convert to be a right back in Downs' system.
VERDICT: FLOP. Partly due to injuries but also due to curious profiling, his time at Downs looks to be all but over.
Brian Onyango
After his release by Maritzburg and with talk of his knee being compromised, some eyebrows were raised by this signing. Fast-forward three-and-a-half years and the Kenyan is still doing an excellent job whenever called upon. He has made 59 appearances in that time, 17 of those in the CAF Champions League. You couldn't ask for a better guy to cover for injuries.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. There are no frills with Onyango, but he has been a very clever depth signing.
Pule Maraisane
The former Sweden-based midfielder played twice for Sundowns for a total of 24 minutes.
VERDICT: FLOP. The less said, the better.
Ismail Watenga
The Ugandan signed for the club somewhat secretly back in 2020. He has gone on loan to the Chilli Boys, Marumo Gallants and Arrows since then. Only in Gqeberha was he a constant selection and he is yet to spend any season on Sundowns' registration list.
VERDICT: FLOP
Marcelo Allende
He arrived for a huge fee with bigger expectations. The head coach decided to move him from a number 10 to play on the right of the midfield diamond or even in the double pivot. He scored in his first two outings for Downs and has become so influential in controlling games and bypassing opposition pressing. His discipline issues are a slight concern and he was desperately missed against Wydad last season.
Verdict: SUCCESS. He is a superb player, that much is clear. Sometimes his role can be underappreciated, but his chemistry with Mokoena is what makes Sundowns tick.
Rushine De Reuck
The Cape Town-born centre-back joined near transfer deadline day in January 2021. As a pure defender, few are better than him, either in the air or on the ground. At Sundowns, he has been very good when selected, but injuries and competition means he has only played 73 matches in three years. His return from injury this season has seen him play three times in the league without conceding a goal.
VERDICT: SUCCESS. He is a top player and just needs to steer clear of injuries, get into the XI and keep his place for a long stretch.
SUMMARY
Total signings since September 2020: 31
Successful signings: 9
Flops: 11
Jury Still Out: 11
Transfer hit rate: 29%
