Downs on quest to recover lost form
MAMELODI Sundowns want to get back to the free-flowing form that saw them storm to the 2015-16 Absa Premiership and last year’s Caf Champions League titles‚ their key player of those championships Khama Billiat says.
The little Zimbabwean maestro believes a win for Downs against Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL’s first “big three” match-up of 2017-18 can spur the Brazilians back to their fluent best.
Sundowns‚ the strongest team on paper in South Africa‚ lost out to Bidvest Wits in last season’s PSL title race as runnersup‚ a schedule of 57 matches in that season appearing to play a role.
The Brazilians have started the 2017-18 season well enough in the PSL‚ with three wins from four games.
But the defending champions’ exit from the Champions League with a narrow‚ away goals quarterfinal defeat against Wydad Casablanca continued to suggest Pitso Mosimane’s team have lost an edge.
Billiat‚ whose own less convincing form midst the backdrop of unresolved contract negotiations has mirrored that of his club‚ said a win against a Chiefs side on the rebound from a defeat against Baroka could help spark Downs’ engine into a healthier throttle.
“It’s very important for every individual‚ for the club. It’s our home game and Kaizer Chiefs are a good team‚” the skilled forward said.
“We expect we will have to work very hard.
“No matter how things are right now on their side‚ on our side things are not the way we want them to be.
“We want to be where we used to be. And we need to get our confidence back. So it’s a tough game for both teams.”
Sundowns‚ perennially playing catch-up in domestic fixtures for the last two years due to their continental exploits‚ have at least 10 league matches and one cap fixture to play in the eight weeks to the PSL’s Christmas recess.