By their ridiculously high standards, Mamelodi Sundowns are struggling at the moment.
At the time of writing, they have just lost to SuperSport United in their last DStv Premiership match, which I believe taught an important lesson about what it truly takes to win on the football pitch.
They were fourth on the log before their visit to Chippa United on Wednesday, having only managed to win half of the six games they had played before that match. I know it’s quite early in the season to subject them to a life under the microscope, and that they haven’t done too badly in the new season so far, but it’s their spectacular inconsistency that I find interesting.
Sundowns have this season gone from outclassing a Kaizer Chiefs that probably played their best game this season against them 4-0, to drawing 1-1 with Sekhukhune just seven days later. They lost to TS Galaxy at home just three days before the said win over Chiefs. Against SuperSport, they won the MTN8 quarter-final 2-0, five days before going down to the same team in the league.
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What’s worse is that SuperSport outplayed them, which is a tribute to their coaching staff for being fast learners. They understandably didn’t create a plethora of clear goal-scoring chances, but crucially took two of the few that they did create.
Their marking was their standout quality in the game; they closed out spaces and frustrated Sundowns until literally the very last moment of the game when the Brazilians scored what would be a consolation goal.
I observed how the intensity with which SuperSport played in that game was higher than that of Sundowns.
It was as if they wanted it more. I found that interesting because it served as a reminder that it is a smart game plan and determination that often help a team win, and not over-reliance on the superior talent in the squad.
Not to suggest that Sundowns were guilty of the latter, but that SuperSport seemed the hungrier side gives the impression that there could have been a bit of complacency. Incidentally, I saw a similar degree of intensity in TS Galaxy’s win at Loftus.
But it could also be that, as coach Rulani Mokwena is at pains to point out these days, their new “inter-related movement” schemes are taking a bit of time to reap the rewards.
That perhaps means there couldn’t have been a better time to play Sundowns than now.
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