Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Allende adds bite to resurgent Sundowns strikeforce
THERE are positive signs that Mamelodi Sundowns have shaken off a jittery start to the season, which has seen them suffer a defeat and a draw in their opening five DStv Premiership matches.
Last Wednesday, Sundowns produced their best performance to date when they skinned Stellenbosch 3-0 at Loftus Versfeld. Two weeks earlier, Sundowns were equally ruthless when they took Kaizer Chiefs to the cleaners for a 4-0 drubbing, also at Loftus.
During the Stellenbosch match, Sundowns unleased new signing Marcelo Allende. After a second-half cameo, the Chilean international added his name to the score sheet after being on the field for only seven minutes. For the rest of the match, he showed some brilliant touches, which did not go unnoticed by the "Yellow Nation". Sundowns fans were bursting with excitement on social media after the match, and many could not praise Allende enough. "Our own Messi", "Marcelo Allende is simply spectacular", "Marcelo 'Maestro' Allende star" and "Good morning Masandawana! We're still not over Marcelo Allende's debut goal!" were some of the comments. Allende showed that he could add loads of bite to the Sundowns attack. The "Yellow Nation" must be licking their lips at the prospect of seeing Allende alongside Ethiopian international Abubeker Nassir, who is presently nursing an ankle injury. He too was hugely impressive on debut, and fans also gushed at his wizardry in the striking zone.
Allende and Nassir have arrived at a time when Sundowns are ready to establish themselves as a superforce in the domestic arena.
Several home-grown talents are also laying down markers and the technical staff will be spoilt for choice when selecting match-day squads.
Now that the Premiership has taken a break to allow the MTN8 competition to kick off, Orlando Pirates have shot to the top of the table, although they have played one match more than second-placed Sundowns.
Pirates have picked up three wins and two draws, while suffering a shock defeat to Chippa United. Their mentor,
Spaniard Jose Riveiro, has moulded the squad into a slick combination and the players seem to be running with his gameplan. He seems to have done a great job with the team's defence and has vowed to rectify the problems in the striking department.
He has been working on a strategy where players other than the team's regular No 9 play themselves into scoring positions, to relieve the outand-out strikers of the pressure of scoring.
The form side has been AmaZulu, who surrendered the unbeaten record in their fifth game. They were taken down 1-0 by Golden Arrows in a KZN Derby a few days ago. After a draw in their opening match, AmaZulu recorded three wins on the trot.
The surprise package has been TS Galaxy, the only unbeaten team as the teams head off into the Premiership's early season break. Remarkably, they are also the only team not to concede a goal this season. Three of their five games have ended in goalless draws.