League title is most important silverware - Rulani Mokwena

SuperSport United’s one-all draw against Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday meant The Brazilians can no longer be caught by the chasing pack, with seven games to spare.

They have now won their 13th overall domestic championship in the Premier Soccer League era, and Mokwena says winning the league should not be downplayed.

"In South Africa, it's sometimes downplayed and maybe we are victims of our own success. Where people undermine the difficulties of winning a league title," said Mokwena.

"The league title is the hardest in any country to win because you've got to play against 15 opponents, both home and away, and the competition lasts eight to nine months."

In the PSL era, this is the earliest that a team has clinched the league title, which shows the dominance of the Tshwane side on the local football scene. 

Mokwena says they couldn't keep the news of winning the league from filtering into the dressing room just before their final CAF Champions League group match against Coton Sport of Cameroon because of social media.

"It was a bit difficult because we live in such a digital and social media space, where players will know the situation, whether you like it or not because it's posted on the social feeds," he added.

"So, my speech to them before the game was congratulations because it's something that they need to be congratulated for."

Sundowns are currently 19 points clear at the top with a game in hand on the trio Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, and Kaizer Chiefs, who are all chasing the remaining CAF Champions League spot. 

Despite the huge gap, Mokwena says this was a very difficult league campaign.

"So, sometimes because of the way it may be perceived when people start to think it looks easy, that's when it's the most difficult," said the Downs mentor.

"Today's game was just one of the exams that we had to pass. We had the psychological block to not be in celebratory mode because of the Championship, which was a very difficult championship.

"Though people may not think that it's very difficult to have that level of consistency."