Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: Ribeiro ordered to pay R66m, Motsepe on Adams’ death & more

Latest Mamelodi Sundowns news, including Lucas Ribeiro being ordered to pay the club R66 million by FIFA and how the death of Jayden Adams affected chairman Thlopie Motsepe.

Ribeiro ordered to pay Sundowns R66m

Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Lucas Robeiro has been ordered to pay the South African giants €4 million (around R66 million) within 45 days following a breach of contract.

Ribeiro forced his way out of Sundowns last year, claiming the club had priced him out of a dream transfer, only to join Spanish second division side Cultural Leonesa.

Sundowns lodged a complaint at FIFA and its Football Tribunal has ruled in favour of the Brazilians after Ribeiro unilaterally terminated his contract which was to run until 2028.

Ribeiro, who is now at Tunisian giants Esperance, has 45 days to settle the multi-million compensation fee or face potential global sporting and playing bans.

The player can, however, still appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Motsepe on coping with Adams’ death

Meanwhile, Sundowns chairman Thlopie Motsepe has opened up about the emotional toll of losing midfielder Jayden Adams, who died in July just two weeks after representing South Africa at the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder looked to be in perfect health as he went about his business, helping the club win the CAF Champions League, before being part of a Bafana squad that reached the Round of 32 of the World Cup but on July 25, he was confirmed dead, leaving his club shocked.

“I think the emotion was… there were a few, there was joy, but the coach said it very powerfully when he dedicated the victory to Jayden Adams, because the loss of a player like Jayden, the loss of anyone,” Motsepe said during an interview with Robert Marawa as quoted by iDiski Times.

“There’s no victory in the world that can replace that. But when you see the pain the players went through, when we heard about that news. There’s so many things that go through your mind as a leader of a club, when the people you care about, the people you are supposed to lead, go through an emotional trauma like that.”

“And you’re going through it, and your coach is also going through it. Your whole organisation are going through it, the supporters are going through it. And so, there was a lot of concern, will we get through this?” he posed.