Sundowns’ season off to a flying start
● Mamelodi Sundowns’ embarrassment of riches in player power seemed to stand in contrast to the starker situation at Kaizer Chiefs, in the Brazilians’ 3-0 opening premiership victory at FNB Stadium yesterday
New signing Peter Shalulile took advantage of a goalkeeping error from Itumeleng Khune to score his first goal at Sundowns for their 37th-minute lead. Another new man, Kermit Erasmus, made it 2-0 scoring on debut in the 54th. Themba Zwane struck the third from the spot in the 88th.
It seemed to encapsulate the difference in resources that as champions Sundowns introduced firepower off their bench, Chiefs' new coach Gavin Hunt brought on youth products Keletso Sifama and debutant Lebohang Lesako.
Hunt needs time
Both sets of coaches made three changes. Hunt brought in Leonardo Castro at centreforward from his team’s 2-1 MTN8 quarterfinal win against Maritzburg United. He had Willard Katsande and Lebogang Manyama back from suspension in midfield.
Sundowns' Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve Komphela and Rulani Mokwena brought in Thapelo Morena at right-back, Andile Jali in midfield and Erasmus up-front from their 1-0 quarterfinal defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic.
Sundowns' bench looked like most teams’ starting line-ups.
Hunt needs time to impose his direct, tough pattern that has yielded trophies everywhere he has coached. He might also have a private concern, one he might not express readily in public, that Chiefs over-achieved with the squad they have finishing second under predecessor Ernst Middendorp last season.
A transfer ban from Fifa has left Chiefs — generally overly-frugal in the market at any rate — watching from the sidelines as big rivals Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have hoovered up deals in Covid-19 economic conditions and plundered the squads of two clubs sold.
Hunt has some ageing players and a squad that needs refreshing. But he’s not allowed to do it. So his ability to work with limited resources, get the best from players, and introduce youth, is going to be tested in this first season at the glamour club.
Sundowns’ Rivaldo Coetzee, Hlompho Kekana and Andile Jali almost too easily outmuscled their Amakhosi midfield counterparts. Downs’ new forwards profited from the spoils of that.
Sundowns took control after the first goal and never really looked like surrendering the bintiative to their opponents .
Other early Premiership results: Bloemfontein Celtic 1 Golden Arrows 1 Baroka FC 2 Maritzburg United 1