Modiba Ends Debut Season on Cloud Nine

It was only eight months ago when Aubrey Maphosa Modiba made his sensational move to Mamelodi Sundowns FC in October 2020. This month he has been voted as the Player of the Month by fans and supporters to reward him for his outstanding performance in the month of May/June. The award comes shortly after the Bafana international picked up his first ever league title, playing a crucial role in the team in the business end of the season.

“Postman” as he is affectionately known for delivering exceptional displays of football on the pitch, had to sail through the winds of the Yellow Nation to mark his spot in his new home. Upon joining Masandawana he said “I must just keep working hard so I can add value to the club” and as promised, he has been delivering on his part of the deal.

In his debut season with The Brazilians, Modiba – who plays as a fullback and midfielder – made a number of appearances in all competitions for The Brazilians and secured himself a starting berth towards the end of the season. Modiba, who signed from cross-town rivals SuperSport United, made his first appearance for Masandawana in the 1-0 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic in the first game of the season. Aubrey’s first league appearance was against Stellenbosch FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in November with the game ending in a 3-0 victory for Masandawana. In total Modiba made 30 appearances in Sundowns colours in his first season in the club, this included 19 league games, 7 Champions League games and 4 cup appearances. Mostly deployed on the left as a full-back, Modiba’s pace and skill on the flanks saw him register 4 assists and grab 1 goal for Downs across the season.

Modiba’s game plan kicked into a higher gear with every game that he got to play, his recent performance in the last Tshwane Derby of the season against his former team SuperSport United FC is one of the memorable games in which he got to display his well-known qualities and this earned him the praise of many supporters and followers of Sundowns as well as the overall DStv Premiership Man Of The Match trophy after the heated encounter. “It was a collective effort because we really wanted to win the game and it was a derby as well” said the tricky midfielder after the win.

Playing for Masandawana means contending with a jam-packed schedule and with that comes the opportunity to compete in continental football. One of the adventures that Modiba got to live for the first time in his football career was participating in the CAF Champions League which demanded travelling across Africa. With each excellent performance in the league, the same energy and mindset had to be carried throughout all competitions all season round. 

The winger’s season at Sundowns has been a successful and remarkable journey winning the Premiership title in his debut season with a promising future at the club. Just as they successfully defended the championship with games remaining yet to play, Modiba’s focus was on the next season: “We can finish on a high and gain momentum going into the next season because we really want to compete again next season for the league, CAF and all the domestic trophies.”

9 Responses
  1. Kick boboza

    Let me take this time to wish Tiyani Mabunda good luck on his new journey, I wish this boy get a very good team where he will be able to win some trophies, this boy did very well for us until the best coach in the world left us, the 3 clueless coaches were appointed to victimize and harass all the players that were doing well with Pitso. I can confirm that people that wanted you out performed this year, Pitso left 3 trophies and currently we have ONLY 1, we were knocked out in the quarter finals and the Zebras with a depleted squad and an MDC diski Coach are going to the finals. Hlompho, Tiyani, Tebogo, Keketso are being harassed and victimized, I am talking about players who contributed to us winning the 3 trophies.

  2. Kick boboza

    Let me take this time to wish Tiyani Mabunda good luck on his new journey, I wish this boy get a very good team where he will be able to win some trophies, this boy did very well for us until the best coach in the world left us, the 3 clueless coaches were appointed to victimize and harass all the players that were doing well with Pitso. I can confirm that people that wanted you out UNDER-PERFORMED this year, Pitso left 3 trophies and currently we have ONLY 1, we were knocked out in the quarter finals and the Zebras with a depleted squad and an MDC diski Coach are going to the finals. Hlompho, Tiyani, Tebogo, Keketso are being harassed and victimized, I am talking about players who contributed to us winning the 3 trophies.

  3. Skhumba

    Manqoba Mngqithi tried to justify why Sundowns was knocked in the quarter finals by saying that the team that starts at home in these games has got an advantage! How painfully was this guy proved wrong! His theory failed to hold at all! Both teams that started at home namely Esperance and Wydad Casablanca were not out in the semi final stage!

  4. MZIMELA

    SKHUMBA Sundowns will never be the same on hand of Manqoba his 1st season started sidelines 3 sinior players soon all sinior will be nowhere this guy really distroyer if a gud coaches can u bench Kekana and Makgalwa this madness

    1. Kick boboza

      You are right Member all this good players are being destroyed, now i can see that ” Manqoba never contributed in our successes ” but Pitso did it alone. the man is choking. how can you bench Hlompho, Tiyani Mabunda, Keletso, Tebogo and expect good results. next year will be difficult.

  5. Kick boboza

    I think Sundowns MUST pay Hlompho all his contract monies and release him, There is no use victimizing him and labeling him as old and loan him there is no sense into that, Hlompho was never off form but was benched as a result of harassing him, This man, Tiyani, Tebogo all over achieved the coaches we have currently. Rulani was at one stage sacked at Pirates and was also shown the door at Chippa, Steve NEVER won a cup before, Manqoba started to win something at Sundowns and Hlompho started winning from Supersport united. the fact that we only had 1 cup this year instead of 3 the previous year is a direct proof that we missed this boys and now they are sending them away. PAY THIS MAN HIS MONIES AND GET OVER IT. Mara i am not going to keep quiet come 2022 season we MUST take everything on offer.no excuses.

  6. Kick boboza

    We will FOREVER Remember the good times that happened at Sundowns, they say Hlompho did not play much hence they want to loan him but if you check properly actually his absence shows that we really under performed this year, Pitso left 3 cups and good players and now abo Siyazi only brought 1 at home and made big blunders that cost us the CAF Champions league, Many north Africa team are dead scared of our senior players and they were happy when they were not used, even Pitso said it. the bad times are coming at Sundowns.

  7. Skhumba

    These guys will struggle (wise man) against Stuart Batxer! Baxter is more of a clever coach than what we have sundowns currently! Guys I am not a traitor but this is my gut feeling! These coach that we have now they will never win us the know out competition! Watch the MTN top 8 that is coming against the Chimpanzees! Stuart will out smart these guys! Baxter specializes on the free kicks and the physical strength (Height) to intimidate the opponents! Even if you look at how the Chimpanzees played against Wydad, all the tactics that they used were written Baxter though all the praises went to Zwane and Shepherd! Our coaches do not have a strategy to break down such defensive teams. They will compete better in the league but this time around i see them struggling on that front as well!

  8. MZIMELA

    Sundowns will never be the same as Pitso time he is really master of soccer i see down fall our glory days are over look at squad we have quality whats reasons recruits more wasteful talent that season Pitso won treble if im not mistaken he sign 2 plays done continues because were enough why keep recruits are more on.loan.others never given chance