Big game epitomised what’s good about PSL

The Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns match over the weekend was a good advertisement for South African football. The 3-1 scoreline was fitting for a match of that calibre because that is what we expect when two big clubs go up against each other. We expect goals. The games between these two teams are always exciting, the fans get to enjoy a treat and in the end have something to brag about and that is what football is all about at the end of the day.

When the teams met at the Orlando Stadium in the reverse fix- to see teams like Free State Stars, Cape Town City and the like being within shouting distance is a positive sign.

This makes the upcoming games a lot more interesting because I expect teams to be more focused now.

Moving to the unfortunate case of SuperSport United who have now failed to win any of their last eight games in the league, I have no doubt that SuperSport realised what had happened to Pirates and Sundowns when they returned from competing in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup.

All the teams that are playing in the Premier Soccer League know by now what they should expect if they compete in continental football.

They then need to have measures in place to address such challenges. To be honest, I am quite shocked to see SuperSport going eight games without a win. Everyone seems to be pointing to the issue of fatigue. But I believe that in modern football we need to have systems in place to address these challenges because I believe we can overcome them.

Professionalism from the players plays a huge role.

The lifestyle of players and how they conduct themselves outside of football is critical.

One can easily see that SuperSport players do not have the physical strength and that is most likely down to their conditioning.

Recovery is not only about sleeping and resting, it is about the food you eat and being mentally equipped for the games.

Down at the bottom of the table we find three teams – Bidvest Wits, Ajax Cape Town and Platinum Stars, who are all managed by experienced coaches in Gavin Hunt, Muhsin Ertugral and Roger de Sa. These are very good coaches but I see this as a wake-up call for South African coaches who must learn that in modern football it is no longer about what you did in the past, it is about what you are doing in the present.

Any of those top coaches can be relegated and the way things are going, one of them will be relegated.

It is going to be interesting to see how they respond going forward because as the season progresses, matters at the top and at the bottom of the league begin to intensify.

I feel it goes a long way to educating us as the public that football has evolved now both on and off the field and in the coaching department.