Mamelodi Sundowns boss still in pain for losing the Betway Premiership title to Orlando Pirates

Mamelodi Sundowns chairman is yet to stomach the fact that Orlando Pirates won last season's Betway Premiership.

Thlopane Motsepe has expressed his disappointed at seeing Sundowns fail to win their ninth title on the trot after having dominated the local scene for eight successive years.

The only trophy that they brought at the cabinet in Chloorkop is the Caf Champions League.

"While we can certainly say that this season was special, we cannot say that the season was a complete success. We finished our 2026 campaign in a very strong manner but we did not start as well as we had hoped," said Motsepe in the Chairman's Letter in the latest Sundowns magazine.

"In addition to failing to secure the local cups, we fell short of winning our ninth title in a row. As much as it pains me to say this, we lost the league because our rivals were better than us over the course of the season.

“However, if we are to relinquish our domestic championship, let it be to an Orlando Pirates team that performed as exceptionally as they did this year. Congratulations to them and the other Clubs that won silverware this season.”