Thlopie Motsepe Makes Honest Admission About Taking Charge of Mamelodi Sundowns
- A major international triumph has given the Sundowns chairman an opportunity to reflect on how far he has come since taking charge
- Motsepe was only 32 when he stepped into the chairman’s role, despite knowing for years that the responsibility could eventually be his
- His latest reflections shed light on the people who helped him navigate the transition into one of African football’s biggest leadership positions
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Thlopie Motsepe has reflected on the uncertainty that accompanied his appointment as Mamelodi Sundowns chairman, admitting that he initially questioned whether he was prepared for the responsibility.
His father, Patrice Motsepe, handed him the responsibility of running the club in 2021. By then, Thlopie had spent years around football and understood he might eventually succeed his father.
The reality of leading Sundowns, however, was different.
“I was 32 at the time, but at the time, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this,” Motsepe said on Mamelodi Sundowns TV, as quoted by KickOff.
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He stressed that the uncertainty did not amount to a lack of self-belief.
“At the same time, I didn’t doubt myself. I just didn’t know if I was ready.”
Motsepe's comments came after Sundowns' 2-1 victory over Al Ahli Jeddah in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup on 19 September 2026, a triumph that secured the club's place in the next stage of the Intercontinental Cup.
The influence of Patrice Motsepe
For Thlopie, the transition was also tied to a family connection built around their shared passion for football. He said he had always understood why his father could eventually ask him to take over, pointing to their mutual love for the game.
That relationship took on added significance during the Al Ahli victory. While watching the match, Thlopie recalled looking towards his father and recognising how much the occasion meant to him.
“He’s my first hero,” he said.
The chairman described embracing his father after the victory as an opportunity to acknowledge what they had achieved together.
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Why Motsepe shared the credit
Rather than portraying the achievement as a personal milestone, the Sundowns chairman pointed to the wider network that supported him during his time at the club. He named executives, board members, coaches and technical staff who helped him understand and maintain the standards established at Sundowns.
“These are the people he grew the club with, and when I stepped in, they already knew the standard we had to uphold, but they believed in me; they helped me,” Motsepe said.
That support, he suggested, was central to his development.
“I couldn’t have done any of that, experienced that moment, without the people who helped me get there,” he added.
For Motsepe, the latest trophy therefore represents more than another achievement for Sundowns. It also marks how far he has travelled since becoming chairman at 32 — when he was still asking himself whether he was ready for the job.
Thlopie Motsepe’s luxury cars attract attention
Briefly News previously reported that, beyond the boardroom and football trophies, two vehicles linked to the Sundowns chairman have also drawn online attention, including one with a personalised registration plate associated with the club.
The cars have sparked interest among supporters, although some details about the vehicles remain unconfirmed.
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Source: Briefly News
