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Amakhosi spent 28 games at the top of the PSL standings, but Downs took the league crown on the final day of the campaign.
Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana says his team less deserved to be crowned 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) champion after the Brazilians emerged triumphant in one of the most fascinating league title races.
Having at one point opened a 13-point gap at the top of the record, the Chiefs enjoyed first place until they capitulated on the final day of the season after being tied 1-1 by Baroka FC.
Downs, meanwhile, beat Black Leopards to be crowned champions for the third consecutive season and the 10th time in the PSL era.
Their patron, Kekana, has won seven PSL titles, five for the Sundowns and three as captain. He bagged two others while at SuperSport United.
“I consider myself a lucky guy because I have a lot of trophies under my belt,” Kekana said. SuperSport TV.
“In my career I have so many beautiful memories. This is one of the trophies that I will treasure for the rest of my life because it has not been easy. At some point we were 13 points behind. To be honest, Kaizer Chiefs played very well. They really deserved more than us because at some point they were scoring non-stop and we were behind and trying to fight back and get our trophy back.
“Look, it’s something we should be proud of as players for a job well done. It has not been an easy season for us considering the [coronavirus-induced] break. It has been difficult for footballers during this pandemic to come back from a five-month break and go straight back to it.
“More than anything, we are happy that we managed to win this trophy for the tenth time for Mamelodi Sundowns and for me I couldn’t ask for more for the seventh time. It is a moment when I should be proud of my journey. I still remember winning it for the first time in SuperSport. Look at me now, it’s the seventh ”.
Joining Kenana for a seventh PSL title are teammates Anthony Laffor, goalkeeper Denis Onyango and defender Tebogo Langerman.
It was coach Pitso Mosimane’s fifth league title at the club he joined in December 2012 to make it a continental powerhouse, winning the 2016 Caf Champions League and the Caf Super Cup.
“The technical team always challenges us to do well in difficult conditions,” Kekana said.
“We always travel to North Africa, West Africa, but we come and put in good performances. It has been a chore playing for Mamelodi Sundowns. We have a great responsibility as players. We will continue to serve the people who love Mamelodi Sundowns.
“We are the generation we must remember for the hard work we have been doing day after day. We have sacrificed a lot. “
Downs now shifts their focus to the Nedbank Cup final, where they will play Bloemfontein Celtic on Tuesday, as they look to seal a hat-trick after also winning the Telkom Knockout earlier in the season.
