Malesela’s Gallants aim to replicate Rockets’ Downs shock

TS Galaxy proved last week that Mamelodi Sundowns can be beaten. But what are the chances of the rest of the Betway Premiership taking a leaf out of The Rockets' textbook and getting the better of the Brazilians?

Sundowns were far from being their usual killer self at the weekend in their first match since that 1-0 loss in Mbombela as they laboured to a 2-0 victory over ABC Motsepe League outfit Mpheni Home Defenders in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16.

You can bet Dan Malesela would have watched the Sunday cup clash as well as that shock defeat at Galaxy to glean some useful information in planning his own assault on the defending champions. Gallants host Sundowns at the Petros Molemela Stadium in a league match tonight, with a 7.30pm kick-off, and will be buoyed on by their own progress into the quarter-final of the country’s premier knockout competition.

“Before you face anyone else, you play against yourself!”

Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda and DJ Naves chat about our upcoming fixture against Marumo Gallants

Watch the full episode now on YouTube! 📲 https://t.co/jIXZAusm6W#Sundowns #BetwayPrem #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/f6rBqQoQvR

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 18, 2025

Granted there was a lot of controversy about their 1-0 victory over AmaZulu after Usuthu had a legitimate goal not given, but that’s neither here nor there as they look forward to working their way up the table.

It is not going to be an easy task, though, Sundowns’ seeming vulnerability in their last two matches notwithstanding. This, after all, is a team that knows just how to beat Gallants.

This campaign already, Bafana ba Style have been victorious in both meetings between the two sides. Early on in the season, Sundowns smashed Galaxy 4-1 in the league on Heritage Day and then beat them 2-0 later on in the Carling Knockout semi-final.

Both clashes were at Sundowns’ home, though, and Gallants could be excused for saying they now have the advantage of their 12th man and will gain sweet revenge.

To do that, however, they will need to play with the incessant intensity and lack of fear or even respect for the Premiership era’s most successful team in the championship, as Galaxy did last week. It was in their willingness to press Sundowns high, to give them little space, and to run at them with the ball that Adnan Beganovic’s team succeeded where only Polokwane City had done before in the league.

Rain or shine, the grind never stops! 🌧️💪#Sundowns #BetwayPrem #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/n9YeeWax9W

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 18, 2025

Stellenbosch FC had also gotten the better of Sundowns in the MTN8, employing a similar strategy of harassing them and not allowing them to settle into their rhythm. Magesi’s Carling Knockout final victory was achieved via a counter-attack ploy and taking advantage of the set pieces they received.

Can Gallants use any of those strategies?

It is highly unlikely, given Malesela’s belief in his ‘passing game’. And so it is that we are in for a match that will pit two ball-playing outfits against one another, an encounter that should be pleasing to the eye as they strive to outpass each other.

Sundowns will be out to show that their defeat at Galaxy was but a minor hump on an otherwise smooth road towards an unprecedented eight successive championships by winning at Gallants. But their former captain Malesela would love nothing more than to delay their coronation march a little with a victory that will see his own club gallantly marching up the table.