NEWS: Rulani Mokwena eyes eclipsing Pitso Mosimane’s PSL benchmark as Mamelodi Sundowns chase after an unprecedented 72-point milestone

The Brazilians secured their seventh successive South African top-flight title with a 5-1 hammering of Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday.

Tasreeq Matthews (52′, 82′), Matias Esquivel (56′), Lucas Ribeiro Costa (90′) and Thembinkosi Lorch (90+4′) were all on target at the FNB Stadium against a Chiefs side reduced to 10 men when Given Msimango saw red after just 19 minutes.

Amakhosi, meanwhile, found the back of the net through a 85th minute Mduduzi Shabalala penalty.

The result saw Downs move onto an unassailable 62 points with six games of their season remaining, that includes 19 wins and five draws from 24 games.

Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch have been their nearest rival this season, but with just four games to play, their highest points tally, if they win their last games, would give them a total of 61.

READ: ‘Only Gavin Hunt has more’ – Mamelodi Sundowns’ Rulani Mokwena after clinching fourth DStv Premiership title as head coach

Sundowns’ previous best finish came in the 2025/16 season under Pitso Mosimane, when they won the league with 71 points, while Mokwena scooped 70 points last season. Downs have six games left and three wins will see them match the second, and would need one draw to set a new milestone.

Reflecting on their defeat of Chiefs and the prospect of collecting as much as 80 points, assuming they go whole season unbeaten, Mokwena explained that his side will keep plugging away in a bid to set the new record.

“71 points? Why not, let’s go for it. If we get it, kudos to us, if not, unlucky and we go next time.

“Every mountain is there to attempt to be climbed, and the moment you climb one you must look for another mountain. Last season we got to 70 points so it is possible,” Mokwena told members of the media.

“This is where we are. Football is about winning, losing or drawing, and I think we are playing now more without a fear of losing.

“Some of our performances were based on not losing, and I reminded the players that we got so far by playing to win. I am happy we have had a shift in mentality a bit,” Mokwena added.