Peter Shalulile has reflected on an extraordinary spell at Mamelodi Sundowns, describing his journey as one built on hard work, resilience and unforgettable memories.
Speaking in his farewell interview with Sundowns Media, the Namibian striker admitted that joining a dressing room filled with elite talent was never easy, but said the environment ultimately pushed him to become a better player.
“It’s been amazing coming to a club where there are top players. It’s difficult, but with all the hard work, listening and dedication, I have managed to get quite a number of records and also trophies.”
Shalulile leaves Chloorkop having cemented his place among the greatest players in the club’s history. He made 228 appearances, scored 107 goals and provided 27 assists across all competitions. His achievements include two PSL Player of the Season awards (2020/21 and 2021/22), back-to-back PSL Golden Boot awards in 2021/22 and 2022/23, while his first Golden Boot came in 2019/20 during his final campaign at Highlands Park.
His departure also sees him ranked third on Mamelodi Sundowns’ all-time goalscoring list, with 107 goals, behind only Daniel Mudau (172 goals) and Bennet Masinga (127 goals).
Despite his remarkable success, Shalulile admitted that his journey was not without setbacks, highlighting injuries and prolonged goal droughts as some of the toughest periods of his career.
“Sometimes injuries came, and more importantly, there were times when I could not score goals. It was a time where I needed to dig deep inside myself. Regardless of not scoring, I still came to the gym and made sure I did my finishing drills every day.”
The 32-year-old reserved special praise for his teammates, crediting them for helping him rediscover his confidence during difficult moments.
“The help from my teammates was one of the best things. They kept helping me until I scored again, and when I broke the drought, they all came onto the pitch to celebrate with me.”
Shalulile explained that his decision to seek a new challenge was carefully considered with those closest to him.
“I decided, and I spoke to my mom and my agent, that the only thing for me to do was to ask the club and the president to give me an opportunity to showcase my talent somewhere else. It’s something that I always wanted to do.”
The Namibian international also paid tribute to the Yellow Nations’ supporters, acknowledging the vital role they played throughout his successful spell at the club.
“The supporters have been amazing. They keep singing, they keep giving us energy. Without them, it’s hard. When they came back after COVID, everything became so nice again.”
Reflecting on the values that shaped his career, Shalulile emphasised the importance of faith and humility.
“You can’t achieve anything without God. And being a good person doesn’t cost you anything. Just be good.”
He concluded by thanking the club’s leadership for believing in him when they signed him from Highlands Park.
“I would just like to thank the president for taking me from Highlands Park and bringing me to Sundowns. It’s not a goodbye. We’ll never know where we’ll end up because life is unpredictable.”
After years of rewriting the record books and helping Sundowns dominate South African football, and essentiall African football, Shalulile leaves as one of the club’s greatest-ever players. Beyond his 107 goals and 27 assists in 228 appearances, his legacy is defined by multiple league titles, domestic honours, individual accolades and a reputation built on humility, professionalism and unwavering perseverance.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
