Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso will make his maiden season opening game against Chippa United as he arrived five or so games into the previous season. Photo: Sipho Siso

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Mamelodi Sundowns may not have it easy in the upcoming Betway Premiership season of 2025/26 due to other teams having beefed up their squads and potential departure of three key players from ranks for pastures green.

Among the key players hoping to leave Masandawana are its leading marksman and top goal scorer Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who seems to have matured after only one season with the club and is rumoured to be headed for the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to join Al Ahly SC.

The other player on the move is Nambian international goal poacher Peter Shalulile and Masandawana stalwart Khuliso Mudau. This pair’s destination is not clear now, but it might not come as a surprise if all three end up in Cairo with former Orlando Pirates mentor Jose ‘Spanish Guiter’ Riveiro.

The three ‘musketeers’ were not included in the team for the MTN8 quarterfinals which the ‘Yellow Machine’ went on to win comfortably with a 4-0 scoreline to progress into the semis of their voodoo trophy that has eluded the side for four years now.

Masandawana coach Miguel Cardoso is confident of annexing the upcoming league, with or without the trio. “I have a tall order to keep and a record of my predecessors to keep and hope to continue with the winning streak that has become a culture and tradition of Sundowns,” Cardoso said at the launch of the new season of the Betway Premiership which starts on August 9.

Cardoso said he was not worried by the potential departure of the trio of key players, saying the club has enough depth within and that void left by the players in question can easily be filled. “Yes, they were key to the team’s success, but no one is irreplaceable, as we can always find other equally good players to replace them and maybe even go on to give us more than we expected,” Cardoso said in an interview later.

Sundowns open the ninth successive defence of the premiership with an away clash to Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth and the Chillie Boys coach Sinethemba Badela said he was hoping for a win in the opening fixture.

“I am aware of the strength of the Sundowns team, having won the league, gone to the finals of the Caf Champions League and their amazing run in the recent Fifa Club World Cup. I hope to have two or so tricks up my sleeve to try and corner them to grab a win this time around,” Badela said.

Sundowns closed off the previous league season with a win over the Chillie Boys and now they will open new season with yet another clash the same team. This will be Cardoso’s maiden start of the season as he arrived five or so games inside the previous league.