Menzi Ngcobo: Sundowns dominance calls for teams to step up

This comes after coach Godfrey Sapula led Sundowns to their sixth league title in a row, despite gallant efforts to challenge them in JVW and TS Galaxy Queens.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Menzi says it takes transformation in the entire club system to end up reaching Sundowns’ level in the league.

“I would’ve loved to see the rest of the pack push Mamelodi Sundowns a bit more. That level of competition forces the entire league to raise its standards - from coaching, to conditioning, to recruitment.

“A competitive league produces better players and ultimately improves the overall product.

 So, when you tally up everything - the points, the performances, the consistency - there weren’t many surprises. Sundowns once again stood head and shoulders above everyone, and for the sixth season in a row you have to doff your hat. Sustained excellence is not luck; it’s a system,” said Ngcobo.

Sundowns have managed to win their sixth championship with a few games in hand. Ngcobo explains what has set this team ahead of the rest.

“For me, it boils down to professionalism. Sundowns are operating like a club that wants to dominate Africa, not just South Africa. There’s a substantial financial investment, a proven recruitment strategy, and most importantly, a player incentive structure that allows their squad to live as 24-hour professionals. When players don’t have to juggle part-time work, transport issues, or inconsistent training, the gap becomes inevitable. Sundowns have built an ecosystem where winning is the default setting,” added Ngcobo.

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The Hollywoodbets does not conclude without challenges this year - having started slow, and also witnessing cancellation of a few matches. Ngcobo explains the reasons behind the hiccups and also shares plans on how to improve the league going into next season.

“Some clubs simply don’t have the logistical capacity needed for a national league, travel costs, player availability, stadium bookings, compliance issues - it all adds up. Other challenges that were faced by the league included; Inconsistent venue availability, limited medical and matchday resources at certain clubs. Poor communication around fixture changes brought about by venue availability.

“For next season, the plan is quite clear: Strengthen compliance and operational requirements for clubs. Introduce stricter penalties for no-shows to protect the integrity of the competition. Continue pushing for more commercial partners so that the league becomes more sustainable.

“We want a league where clubs don’t just participate but they compete professionally,” he concluded