Staying up is the Downs mantra
The Sundowns face a daunting task of defending their title in the new campaign.
|||With the Premier Soccer League season almost upon us, Independent Media today begins its build-up with daily analyses of the 16 clubs, broken down into ‘contenders, dark horses, also-rans and relegation candidates’. Today we at defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns:
The Downs face the daunting task of defending their title with their competitors out to get them in the new campaign.
The likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United will be in hot pursuit for the crown.
Though the season is yet to begin, Chiefs, Pirates, Wits and SuperSport have made their intentions clear by acquiring new players.
Coach Pitso Mosimane knows the Brazilians cannot relax and expects a tough season.
“It’s very difficult. When we won it, we couldn’t defend it. Chiefs won it and couldn’t defend it. It’s very tough but doable. It’s very possible,” said Mosimane, who has bolstered his team with Sibusiso Vilakazi, Lucky Mohumi and Ricardo Nascimento.
“The real challenge is the (CAF) Champions League. Last year there was no Champions League.
“We could make the most of our preparations. Now our pre-season is only coming after December.”
While the rest of the PSL teams are in pre-season, Mosimane’s men are having an on-and-off season with participation in the Champions League.
Mosimane says it will be difficult for his new players to be on par with the rest of his team.
“Now we have ‘Vila’, who is not fully fit as yet. As much as we are working on fitness levels, you’ve got to make him understand how to play the Sundowns way,” said the former Bafana Bafana coach.
“There’s nobody at training. We are off and the poor boy is on pre-season. It’s very difficult. I don’t think it is good for us to judge him this year based on this.
“It’s the same with Lucky. Ricardo is slightly ahead of them. I hope he adapts. Sundowns are a very difficult club. If you don’t make it in one year, people start to say you are a flop. People don’t have patience.”
Mosimane is comfortable with the squad he has despite parting ways with a number of players.
Cuthbert Malajila, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Mogakolodi Ngele, Lebogang Mokoena and Katlego Mashego have since left Sundowns.
Mosimane is keen to add two more players – a striker and a midfielder. He revealed that he is set to swoop on Bloemfontein Celtic’s Thapelo Morena as cover for Zimbabwean talisman Khama Billiat, who is set to miss a few matches after the December break as he will be taking part in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
“You know the player we are looking at. We don’t know if we can get him. We have approached Morena,” said Mosimane.
Mosimane’s focus now is on doing well in the Champions League, where they have reached the semi-finals. He is confident the team will do well in the tournament.
“We have the strike force to take us to the final. We have Khama, Leo Castro, Anthony Laffor can play as a striker. He scored a hat-trick against Tuks.
“We can still play Percy Tau as a half-striker. It’s only four games. We believe we can do well,” said Mosimane.
Analysis
Sundowns have grown in leaps and bounds:
To his credit, Mosimane has assembled a formidable team capable of defending their title.
Mosimane has done well by surrounding himself with astute coaches in the form of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena.
His brains trust possess calmness and energy. Mngqithi is brilliant at analysing opponents while Mokwena provides valuable knowledge that includes methodologies and strategies from the world of football. Their contrasting personalities keeps the Downs boat afloat.
Sundowns boast talented and seasoned campaigners. They have massive experience representing their country of birth and also winning trophies.
In the goalkeeping department, Mosimane has Denis Onyango, Kennedy Mweene and Wayne Sandilands. The trio have put each other on their toes fighting for the No?1 spot much to the benefit of Sundowns.
Their midfield has some of the best players in the PSL. It’s from the middle that Sundowns make things happen. It also helps to instil variety in terms of play. If the passing game doesn’t work, Downs can switch to the long-ball route with Hlompho Kekana conducting the orchestra.
In attack, Sundowns are gifted with predators. With Billiat and Castro set to lead the charge, Sundowns would be unstoppable. They also have a number of players who can play in midfield and upfront, thus giving them the edge.
That Sundowns have also made massive progress in the Champions League has given the players a feeling of invincibility. A balanced Sundowns will be hard to stop. Their chances of defending the title look promising.
Key Man
Khama Billiat:
Though Sundowns have an array of stars in all departments, there’s one man who shines the brightest. The reigning PSL Footballer of the Season is expected to carry Sundowns’ aspirations in the upcoming season.
Blessed with blistering pace, skill and an eye for goals, Billiat has tormented opposition defences. Last season, the Zimbabwean playmaker put on scintillating performances for the Brazilians.
Not only did he score stunning goals, he is also influential in creating goal-scoring opportunities as Sundowns romped to their seventh league title.
The 25-year-old wing king is a busy bee on the pitch. His darting runs and movements off the ball are a handful for opponents.
Billiat is also the beneficiary of some great work from the likes of Hlompho Kekana, Keagan Dolly and Leonardo Castro.
With Sundowns having acquired Bafana Bafana playmaker Vilakazi, Billiat may become even more lethal.
New signings: Ricardo Nascimento (from Academica), Lucky Mohumi (Free State Stars), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits)
Finishing positions in previous five seasons: 1st, 2nd, 1st, 10th, 4th.