Have they been replaced?
Khama Billiat (28 years old)
This was a big loss, no doubt, especially because of the fact that he went to a direct title rival. However, Sundowns knew for a while that he was unlikely to renew his contract and, with his injuries in the last year, he had played under 50% of the available league minutes last season anyway. However, few players score and assist as regularly as the Zimbabwean and after Percy Tau’s departure from these shores, Billiat is now arguably the best player in the league.
The Successor: Gaston Sirino (27 years old)
In January last season, Billiat’s replacement was signed and Pitso made it clear at the time that Sirino was a direct replacement for the last member of the famous CBD combination:
“Sirino is here to do another part. And I think he’s a direct replacement. He’s direct‚ to replace the CBD. I don’t say that the signings will do that immediately, but I say they have the capacity to. And maybe even stronger.”
He certainly started this season well, but had a very poor game when Sundowns needed him most against Horoya in the Champions League and is still coming back to full fitness and sharpness after a minor injury. Mosimane has tipped him to win Player of the Season, but he still needs to score more goals, whilst continuing to provide quality service for his teammates, from open play and from set- play situations.
Verdict: There is no doubt that Billiat is proving a real loss, especially with his amazing performances for Chiefs currently. However, for him to play his best, he needs a team to be built around him and to be freed from all defensive responsibilities. Sirino may never provide the sheer end product of Billiat, but he has shown his undoubted talent, skill and creativity and could become the main man for Downs in coming months.
Percy Tau (24 years old)
Up front, Sundowns have preferred to use mobile, versatile forwards instead of old-school number nines. Mosimane converted Tau from a left winger into a fantastic false nine, who could move around the frontline and both score and create goals. Tau was incredible in his final season, finishing jointtop goalscorer, second in the assist charts and top of the leaderboards for shots taken and dribbles. Of course, the defending league champions are missing his presence in a big way, but there had been talk of Tau attracting overseas interest for a while, so his departure was not a complete shock.
The Successor: Toni Silva (25 years old)
Last season, ex-Liverpool and Chelsea academy player, Toni Silva, spent a couple of weeks training at Sundowns and the two parties finally agreed he would join for this season. After a period of regaining fitness, he made his debut up front against Cape Town City in the MTN8 and did very well. He has since played mostly in a central role, drifting out to the right flank at times and taking players on. Being left-footed, there are some similarities to Tau in the positions he takes up, and one big admirer of his is Cape Town City coach, Benni McCarthy:
“One player I saw when I was at Porto was Toni Silva. He’s a player who interested me a lot. What a player! World class! World class player! I think once he is unleashed, then South Africa is going to have a new superstar playing in our domestic league because he’s just a class above most players we have. He comes with pedigree and with European experience and he’s been at youth level at Benfica and at Liverpool‚ and I don’t think you get a better education than at those two clubs at youth level, and now he’s at Sundowns.”
Verdict: In attack, Downs are going to take a while to find a way to replace the massive influence of Percy Tau, because so much of their play went through him. In all likelihood, he is going to have to be replaced by a few players sharing the slack, but Silva has shown great signs so far and, as he settles in, he could start to set the Absa Premiership alight.