Which PSL Clubs’ Current Squad Could Beat Their Best Generation From the Past?

• Mamelodi Sundowns' current squad could arguably be called the best in the PSL era
• Kaizer Chiefs still have the bulk of the squad that lost a continental final in 2021
• SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates are past league winners in search of a return

Past glories linger in the memories of fanbases yearning for something to brag about.

Only seven clubs have won the Premier Soccer League title since the rebranding of the top division in 1996.

Of those, Santos and Wits University are down in the third tier, while Manning Rangers no longer exist after being sold, renamed and relocated in 2007.

The other four are household names and Sports Brief gauges whether their current squad could match their most successful counterparts of the last three decades.

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PSL club vs their previous best squads

Mamelodi Sundowns 1998 to 2000

Masandawana are on the verge of an unprecedented seventh consecutive PSL title and only connoisseurs of the old National Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League would be in a position to debate whether they are the best team in South African history.

However, before their current domination, they were the first club to win three consecutive PSL titles, doing so between 1998 and 2000.

That team famously featured Daniel Mudau, Bennett Mnguni, Matthew Booth and Nigerian Raphael Chukwu. Playing during a golden period for domestic football they were a sublime team, who feared nobody.

Sadly, Football has evolved away from the swashbucklingly direct style that dominated that era, giving way to a meticulously structured style embodied by Rulani Mokwena. This hypothetical clash could go down to taste.

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Orlando Pirates 1995

How the Buccaneers were awarded the 1994 PSL title carries an asterisk but they backed it up by becoming the first South African team to win the CAF Champions League.

The current Orlando Pirates have shown glimpses of quality, owed as much to Jose Riviero's talents than the individual qualities he has at his disposal.

The mid-nineties Sea Robbers were brutally physical and played with an intensity that made them among the most intimidating on the continent.

It was a team that could win by force, personified by players like Jerry Sikhosana, Mark Fish, the late John Moeti and Marc Batchelor. Unless the referee was on their side, the modern team would stand little chance.

Kaizer Chiefs 2001 to 2005

In the early 2000s, the Glamour Boys promoted 'Operation Vat Alles', a publically stated desire and belief that they would conquer everything they touched.

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That squad, which included Brian Baloyi, Arthur Zwane, Thabo Mooki, Collins Mbesuma and a long list of mercurial talent, had an aura and swagger that the current Amakhosi team can only pretend to possess.

The current Chiefs squad still carries several members who took them to the CAF Champions League final, but a fantasy match against the team from 20 years ago may only remind Amakhosi how much work they have to do.

SuperSport United 2008 to 2010

Gavin Hunt is the only coach from either club on this list to have been in charge of the best and current versions of SuperSport United. The late 2000s Matsatsantsa squad is also the only team besides Sundowns to achieve a 'threepeat'.

That SuperSport team was effective, but not spectacular, with the combined margin of victory over those three seasons being just three points, even winning the second via goal difference. They also lost a combined 20 games across that treble run.

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Hunt is slowly rebuilding again and may have some way to go to reach the level of talent he had at his disposal then, but in a fashion true to the manager, he would find a way to win.

Amakhosi to afford Pitso and Percy?

Sports Brief recently reported on what it would take for Kaizer Chiefs to bring in Pitso Mosimane and Percy Tau.

The Amakhosi are harbouring ambitions of bringing both 'Jingles' and 'The Lion of Judah' to Naturena next season.

The club is under pressure from a demanding fanbase that is not wanting to stretch their decade without silverware.