Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: Ribeiro to rejoin Masandawana, transfer updates & more

Latest on Mamelodi Sundowns in the last 24 hours including potential return of Lucas Ribeiro, Steve Komphela given his flowers and more.

Ribeiro re-union with Sundowns?

Mamelodi Sundowns are said to be exploring the possibility of a sensational reunion with Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who is officially a free agent after his short-term deal with Spanish Segunda División side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa expired at the end of June.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 ‼️

Mamelodi Sundowns are said to be exploring the possibility of a sensational reunion with Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who is officially a free agent after his short-term deal with Spanish Segunda División side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa expired at the end of June.… pic.twitter.com/Kk210Pyo1m

— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) July 1, 2026

The Brazilian playmaker made 31 appearances for the club in a difficult debut campaign, scoring six goals and registering two assists before a mass squad clearout at the end of the season.

With his contract now expired, Ribeiro has returned to Brazil, where he has kept busy organising a community tournament in his hometown of Santa Helena. His next destination remains undecided, with Al Ittihad Tripoli — where he would be reunited with former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena — previously reported as the frontrunners, alongside interest from Esperance Sportive de Tunis and several clubs in Egypt.

Any Sundowns move would represent a striking turnaround given the acrimony of his 2025 departure, and would likely draw scrutiny given the still-pending tribunal case between the two parties.

Ncikazi, Komphela lauded by Chiefs legend

Kaizer Chiefs legend Brian Baloyi has hailed Mandla Ncikazi and Steve Komphela’s impacts at Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, respectively.

Ncikazi has been an assistant coach at Pirates since 2021 and helped them win domestic trophies alongside Jose Riveiro and also the treble that included the Betway Premiership title this past season with Abdeslam Ouaddou.

"That man [Ncikazi] is doing a brilliant job there… “Also at Sundowns, there’s Steve Komphela. The work that he does there is very important.

Kaizer Chiefs legend Brian Baloyi has hailed Mandla Ncikazi and Steve Komphela’s impacts at Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns,… pic.twitter.com/Uqcn3GDJ0l

— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) July 1, 2026

Komphela on the other hand is enjoying a second stint with the Brazilians which started in 2024 having left for one campaign to coach Golden Arrows.

“Our reality is that you always need someone local on that bench,” Baloyi told iDiski Times.

“Mandla Ncikazi is playing a very crucial role at [Orlando] Pirates, and people are not taking notice. I have noticed that in the last few years, and that man is doing a brilliant job there.

“Of course, it is natural that when the club wins and the club is doing well, the head coach is the one who gets all the flowers. He’s the head, it’s natural. But some of us see and notice the good work that Mandla’s doing.

“Also at Sundowns, there’s Steve Komphela. The work that he does there is very important.

“Because all of the stuff about the human side of coaching, when the head is someone that does not come here, someone who does not understand our culture and all of that, this is the role that these men I’m talking about are able to play.”