Tshwane derby - the rivalry

A much as Mamelodi Sundowns have dominated the past Tshwane derbies against SuperSport United, beating their neighbours has never been a given and that will likely to be the case again in midweek when the two meet.

Wednesday’s clash in Atteridgeville will be the 82nd between the two clubs, stretching back to 1990 when SuperSport were still known as Pretoria City and when Sundowns were beginning to consolidate their rise to prominence as one of the country’s more important clubs.

‘Downs have since gone onto become the dominant force in South African football with a total of 16 championship triumphs, the last six in a record-breaking row.
Over the last years, Sundowns have continued to set new standards of dominance but in five of the last six seasons, SuperSport have managed to take points off the Brazilians, making them into an irritable neighbour.

In the last campaign, Sundowns collected 70 points and lost only two of their 30 league matches – one of them to SuperSport.

Their only home loss in the 2018-19 season, when they finished two points ahead of runners-up Orlando Pirates, was to SuperSport.

SuperSport also beat Sundowns 3-1 on aggregate in the 2019 MTN8 semi-final, going onto edge Highlands Park in the final.

But overall, the win count is a lobsided one with Sundowns having won exactly double the number of games in the derby than SuperSport have. Sundowns have a total of 44 victories to 22 for SuperSport with only 15 draws. The goal tally is also dominated by Sundowns with 124 to SuperSport’s 83.

Daniel Mudau, who is still the club’s all-time leading scorer, netted 14 goals against SuperSport but Peter Shalulile, has the potential to shatter his record, has only scored twice against ‘Matsatsantsa’.

Mudau scored all