How defending champions have fared in their season opener

When Sekhukhune United host defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the opening game of the new DStv Premiership seasons at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Friday, history will not be on their side.

Over the last decade, only one champion has made a losing start to the defence of their title … and it has not been Sundowns, who have dominated the championship over the past 10 years.

Here is the Supersport.com look back at the last decade of opening day matches for the defending league champion:

2022-23 Mamelodi Sundowns: Few sides relish away trips to Mother City at the best of times and especially not for their first league game of the season but Sundowns quickly set out their stall and reminded everyone of their prowess by beating Cape Town City 2-0, with Aubrey Modiba and Themba Zwane scoring within two minutes of each other just past the hour mark.

2021-22 Mamelodi Sundowns: Fans were still banned from the stadium at the start of the season and it meant a subdued atmosphere for Sundowns as they took on Benni McCarthy’s AmaZulu at Loftus, in a matchup of the previous season’s top two finishers, winning a tight game through a Zwane penalty.

2020-21 Mamelodi Sundowns: The duo of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena were in charge of their first league game together, after Pitso Mosimane’s departure for Egypt, and it was the perfect start for the new ‘Downs bosses as they thumped Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 at Soccer City in a match played without spectators because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2019-20 Mamelodi Sundowns: A local derby marked the start of the season for Sundowns and Sibusiso Vilakazi, in the first half, and Zwane, near the final whistle, scored as they beat SuperSport United 2-0 in Atteridgeville.

2018