Pitso Mosimane's legacy: How he shaped Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance in SA football
LEGACY Pitso Mosimane's transformative leadership laid the foundation for Mamelodi Sundowns' sustained dominance in South African football, influencing club success and national team growth. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Although it’s been five years since Pitso Mosimane left Mamelodi Sundowns, his legacy as coach of the dominant team in South Africa is still very much alive.
Mosimane led Sundowns to five league titles in a row, which the club under different coaches have extended to a record eight in succession. Mosimane also won five cup trophies and the CAF Champions League title with Sundowns in 2016.
Though one can’t discredit current Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso as the reigning Betway Premiership champions, it’s difficult to imagine that Sundowns would be where they are now without the foundation Mosimane built while at the club.
Former Sundowns defender Wayne Arendse, who was also at the club from 2012 to 2020 alongside Mosimane, explained the impact the tactician had on the Brazilians.
The Transformative Impact of Coach Pitso Mosimane on Sundowns and South African Football
"I remember him coming through the doors, and they introduced a new coach, and it was coach Pitso,” Arendse, 40, told SportsBoom.co.za.
“He changed everything at Sundowns, from the canteen where we ate our lunch and breakfast, the fields, and the philosophy that he came there with was about winning. Everybody needed to be on top of their game, whether you were working as the groundsman, whatever you were doing, he demanded excellence.”
Arendse explained that Mosimane had a unique approach, and that was the real key in his philosophy.
"It showed in the results, and he made it known because we did things differently than other people. He reminded the players to take their careers more seriously, watch the games more, and watch the opponent more.
"Ultimately the national team is also benefiting from that and it shows because when you have your Pirates competing in the Champions League going to this semi-final, having Stellenbosch up there, it shows that it's not a fluke that under-20s went on to win the championship and we're doing well in our national teams."