Attacking midfielders
Gaston Sirino
After the departures of Percy Tau and Khama Billiat, Sirino has stepped up as one of the club’s key attackers this season. He has played as a number 10 in most games, supporting either a striker or a false nine, and has six goals (two penalties) and nine assists in his 26 appearances. He had a slow start to the PSL campaign and didn’t score or assist in the first six games. In his 10 games since, he has three goals and four assists. His performances have largely been excellent, but he needs to add more goals to his game from open play. He has also shown real tenacity in his pressing and defensive work. 8.5/10
Sibusiso Vilakazi
Due to a serious Achilles injury, he played just six league games this term. With Billiat and Tau leaving, he had pressure to perform and perhaps take over the false nine role played to such great effect by the latter. In his outings this season, he played up front, as an attacking midfielder and even in a deeper role in a virtuoso display against Golden Arrows in the MTN8 where he scored a fine goal. He contributed one other goal and a single assist. He was expected to be a major loss, but others played have stepped up in his absence. 7/10
Themba Zwane
In the last two seasons, ‘Mshishi’ scored 14 league goals. In Tau’s absence, he was expected to match or even better those numbers. In the league, he has had a mixed time. Having started the first three games, he started just two of the next 10 due to an injury and being rested for CAF Champions League action. It took him until late January to score his first and only league goal so far and he has just one assist in the PSL. However, in the CAF Champions League, he has been superb, scoring three goals in his three games and assisting a goal for Emiliano Tade. Despite his fairly low production numbers this season, on his day he is untouchable and almost impossible to dispossess and his creativity and skill in tight spaces is unrivalled in the squad. A very strong finish to the season is expected from him. 8/10
Lebohang Maboe
The big-money signing from Maritzburg United has had an excellent season. From day one, he looked like he had been playing for Sundowns for several years. Initially used on the right, he has also excelled as a number 10 and as a false nine. He has five goals and six assists for the season so far but could improve his finishing, especially after a spate of recent missed chances. He has started 15 out of 17 league matches, playing the full game in 11 of those. His work rate, fitness and pressing have drawn praise from Mosimane on a number of occasions. He has not had a single injury despite playing almost every game since arriving at the club. In coming months, he will need to contribute more goals if Sundowns are to lift one or more trophies, but he has been exactly the modern, versatile addition that the coach was hoping for, and the best is yet to come. 8.5/10
Aubrey Ngoma
The left-footed winger was expected to be Keagan Dolly’s replacement, but he has had a nightmare season. Between playing at left back in preseason and then constant injury problems, Ngoma has also just been out of favour as Sundowns rarely play with wingers. He has made four appearances all season, with two of those from the start. He assisted a goal for Sirino by winning a penalty against Free State Stars, but that is his only contribution this season. He had agreed a loan move to Maritzburg United on transfer deadline day in January, but Sundowns kept him in case they pick up injuries in attack. 4/10
Anthony Laffor
In the first five months of the season, the Liberian winger made just two appearances for the club as he struggled with a knee injury. Since December though, he has played in five of the continental matches and has started each of the last five league games. He has three goals in total, scoring against Chiefs, Al Ahly Benghazi and Lobi Stars. His performances have been excellent and his link-up play with Maboe, Sirino and Zwane has given the defending league champions fluidity in attack. His displays were rewarded with a new contract. 7.5/10
Sphelele Mkhulise
The diminutive midfielder returned from two loan spells in the National First Division to be part of the squad this season. He has had to be patient for minutes and has, so far, just had three run-outs – a substitute outing against Chiefs in the league, and two full 90-minute appearances in the cups. He impressed in a central midfield role against Cape Town City in August but had to wait five months for his next chance, against Chippa in the Nedbank Cup. He did decently as a wide player and should get more chances in the near future. 6/10