Sundowns still the trendsetters
VILAKAZI: FOUR-YEAR DEAL SHOWS ‘STATEMENT OF INTENT’
Of late, Mamelodi Sundowns have been setting the trend in awarding their players and coaching staff with long-term contracts and the latest to put pen to paper on a long-term deal is attacking midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi, who has tied himself to Masandawana until 2024.
Looking at this from a distance, former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker Pollen Ndlanya says Sundowns are making a statement of intent and the other so-called big teams should be worried.
“The statement that Patrice
Motsepe is making is that, ‘guys I want to take South African football to another level’. Pitso Mosimane has been doing well for them and the players have also been doing well. So I guess Motsepe said he wants everyone to remain part of the family, so that is what he is doing for the likes of Vilakazi and “Vila” is the quality they had to hold on to,” he told the Saturday Citizen.
“I would not want to compare Sundowns’ dealings with other teams but at least Motsepe is setting the trend. If players have been doing well, why not give them the long term contracts? I don’t know how Pirates and Chiefs are running their affairs and who is scouting for them but Sundowns are doing well so far.
They look after their players and Motsepe said clearly on television that Pitso must stay, He said ‘forget about contracts and all that, I want you to be part of the team because you have been doing well’,“Ndlanya added.
The former Bafana Bafana international went on to liken Sundowns to Spanish giants and newly crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid, saying while Los Blancos had been dominating the European scene of late much like Downs are doing locally, both sides understood that they could rest on their laurels.
The Brazilians understand that they need to keep their standards high all the time because they mean business, like Real Madrid in Spain.”