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OPINION: Sundowns need to find their groove or kiss Champions League goodbye
Sundowns will play CR Belouizdad the Champions League quarterfinals on Saturday.
Sundowns have to rediscover their form to do well in Champions League. Pciture: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images.
There are so many things that money can buy you in football, success being one. Manchester City have been a totally different beast since Abu Dhabi money was pumped into the sky blue themed outfit.
Newcastle United are following suit after a they were bought by Saudi Arabian interests.
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In South Africa, the big dogs are Mamelodi Sundowns and their head coach, Rulani Mokwena does agree that backing of Patrice Motsepe billions plays a huge role in Sundowns’ success.
But if there is one thing money can’t buy you in football, it has to be professionalism and consistency. The Brazilians, to be honest, are on a level of their own in contrast to the rest of the 15 teams in the Premier Soccer League, and it would not be wild to suggest that Downs should win at least two trophies a season.
Sundowns did the clean sweep last season when they won the MTN8, Nedbank Cup and DStv Premiership. However, Mokwena’s side has only retained one of those – the league. Anyway, there was not much of a challenge on that front as Sundowns have led from day one.
Questionable form
The thing about Sundowns squad is that they boast of quality and quantity, and for them to from scoring five goals against Al-Ahly, which was preceded by a feast of goals in previous games, to now struggling to net more than three goals in six games, is quite questionable.
One can easily blame complacency, but Mokwena has vowed that there is no match that his side will play where there is no intensity and clear intention to win the game.
Sure, Sundowns do show that they want to win when they play, but the level of effort has decreased and this is probably because the players walk into the pitch having already won the game in their minds. Mokwena needs to find a solution around his side’s shyness in front of goal because this might rub off in the Caf Champions League, where the whole country pins their hopes behind them.
