PSL action returned following the international break to take centre stage on the football scene this weekend. THABANG KGELEDI takes a look at the take-aways from a bumper weekend of action.
Trending up: African champions dominate Kaizer Chiefs
After their unexpected loss to Supersport United in the Telkom Knockout Cup, Mamelodi Sundowns appeared to have a serious case of ‘post-Champions League syndrome’. This happens when a club has a run deep in the CAF Champions League and when that campaign is over, the squad struggles in local competitions because they are mentally and physically fatigued. Look no further than Orlando Pirates in 2013 for an example.
Was it too soon to diagnose Pitso Mosimane’s men with the syndrome? Yes! The Brazilians dispelled any notion of disorder on Saturday afternoon as they dismantled arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 and, truth be told, the score should’ve been far worse for Steve Komphela’s men.
Chiefs simply didn’t have answers for the brilliance of Keagan Dolly and Percy Tau, who tormented the Amakhosi defense from beginning till end. Tau was exceptional on the day and deserves consideration for a spot in the next Bafana Bafana squad.
Mosimane will be pleased with how his side dominated Chiefs, but things are set to get worse before they get better in terms of fixture congestion with the CAF Super Cup and The Club World Cup adding to the problem.
For Chiefs fans, just when it appeared that Steve Komphela had finally turned the corner and got his combinations right, their squad has been less than impressive in recent matches. Having scored three goals and only winning one fixture in their past five games in all competitions, there is little cause for celebration at Naturena.
It is not an exaggeration to say Komphela’s side, packed with defenders, were thoroughly picked apart by Sundowns and it is now only a matter of time before the Amakhosi faithful renew calls for Komphela’s head.
Trending Down: Free State Stars and Ajax Cape Town continue to struggle
Free State Stars and Ajax Cape Town remain the only teams without a win in nine games in the Premiership.
Ea Lla Koto’s dismal start to the season has already led to management axing Denis Lavagne and replacing him with Giovanni Solinas. Things seemed to be on right track when they secured a semi-final spot in the Telkom Knockout Cup after crushing Bidwest Wits 3-1 and defeating Kaizer Chiefs 5-3 on penalties. But their league showings haven’t improved much; they only managed to secure two out of a possible nine points.
Saturday’s loss to Orlando Pirates wasn’t much in doubt especially after they conceded first. Their defense is leaky and their attack isn’t anything to write home about, either. Solinas’ negative formation of 4-5-1 doesn’t help, but that may be a means to an end with the squad that he has at his disposal.
Ajax are in the same boat. The Urban Warriors have also seen a change in coaching ranks after a slow start to the 2016-17 season under Roger de Sa. De Sa resigned and was replaced by Stanley Menzo but unlike their Free State colleagues, who, as aforementioned, have had relative success in the Cup. The Urban Warriors haven’t given their supporters any glimmer of hope as their form has continued in the same vain. Five losses in the last six games, the latest being Saturday’s home loss against minnows Maritizburg United.
Yes, the team has a number of good players but they don’t appear to be clicking for some reason and time is already running out for Menzo to figure out why …
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Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
