Sundowns return to league duty three days after MTN8 triumph
MTN8 winners on Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns resume the race for points on Tuesday at Richards Bay. The leaders remain unbeaten, but Orlando Pirates are one point behind with a game in hand. A continental trip to Angola follows.
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Loftus Versfeld, July 2010 (file photo). Richards Bay v Sundowns is announced for the Princess Magogo Stadium.
The MTN8 trophy is in the bag. The league points, though, are still up for grabs. Three days after their 2-0 win over Orlando Pirates in the final, Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Richards Bay on Tuesday 13 October. For Sundowns supporters, the next fixture will show how the team follows up the triumph before heading back onto the African stage.
One point clear, but one game more played
Sundowns go into this game with twenty points from eight matches. Six wins, two draws and no defeats: their start has put them top. But that lead has to be read alongside the number of games played. Orlando Pirates have nineteen points from seven outings. The one-point gap therefore gives the MTN8 winners no lasting cushion.
The fixture list adds another reason to pick up points quickly: Pirates also play on Tuesday, against TS Galaxy. Both matches are scheduled for the same time. Saturday's win came in a cup final; it has not put any distance between them and this rival in the league title race.
Richards Bay still waiting for first win
Their next opponents' record is a different story. Richards Bay have taken only three points from seven games, with three draws and four defeats. Sundowns therefore face a side still without a league win.
The match is announced for Tuesday at 19:30 in South Africa, which is 18:30 in Brazzaville. Sundowns' official fixture list places it at the Princess Magogo Stadium. The line-ups will show which players are picked after the final; no starting XI has yet been confirmed here.
Angola next
After Richards Bay, Sundowns must face Angolan club Wiliete in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. This two-legged tie will decide who reaches the group stage. The matches are scheduled in the windows of 16 to 18 October and 23 to 25 October: a different test from the league, with qualification to be secured over two matches.
For now, Sundowns must defend top spot against Richards Bay before playing for continental qualification.
Sources
Joel Oliver, Afrik-Foot, 12 October 2026: pre-match preview and league records. Thabo Moagi, Our Soccer Updates, 10 October: October schedule.
Mamelodi Sundowns: league table and MTN8 title announcement, official fixture list shown by the club. CAF, 15 September: second round and match windows. ESPN, 13 October schedule, event 401902027, checked on 12 October: kick-off 17:30 UTC, fixture scheduled, and Pirates v TS Galaxy at the same time. The exact days of the CAF tie differ between calendars; only the official windows are used. The Richards Bay stadium given in one preview differs from the club's fixture list; the club's announcement is used.
File photo: Loftus Versfeld, 6 July 2010, Marcello Casal Jr / Agência Brasil, CC BY 3.0 Brazil. Stadium used by Sundowns and announced for their continental return; it is not the venue for Richards Bay v Sundowns. Faithful crop and SNA logo, brand rights separate.
