Downs need key players to come to party for title
Reigning champs date with Chiefs
For Mamelodi Sundowns to stand any chance of defending their Absa Premiership title, they will need their senior players to step up now.
Their key players have been out of form and this is the reason they have been struggling since football returned earlier this month.
The reigning league champions are still searching for their first league victory since the restart of football following another draw, this time against Maritzburg United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday.
Out of a possible 12 points, Pitso Mosimane’s men have managed to get three points following three draws and one defeat.
Senior players such as
Dennis Onyango, Themba Zwane, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Ricardo Nascimento, Tebogo Langerman, and Wayne Arendse have not lived up to expectations.
This led to Mosimane looking at young players such as Promise Mkhuma, Keletso Makgalwa, and Sphelele Mkhulise who have chipped in with goals.
But they don’t have that experience to see the club to the finish line at this point in the season. Mosimane admitted after their draw against Maritzburg United that his senior players are currently struggling with form.
“If you are honest, Themba Zwane is our most important player. Since we came back he hasn’t had much influence on the game as much as he has for the last eight years,” Mosimane said.
“We have to be honest about it and make some necessary changes. We had Promise in his place. Promise played well. Same as Vilakazi, we need him. He is an important player, [Gaston] Sirino, we need him, and he is an important player. They are not at their best at this point in time, they are key players.”
With two must-win fixtures this week against Golden Arrows tonight at Dobsonville Stadium (6pm) and log leaders Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday in what could be a title decider, Downs will need all the players to be at their best.
Arrows are also struggling and are yet to register a victory with two defeats and a draw in three matches.
‘‘ We have to be honest and make some changes