Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu played to a goalless draw at Kings Park Stadium on tuesday afternoon as The Brazilians maintained their advantage at the top of the table. The much-anticipated clash of the top two teams in the DStv Premiership dished out some of the best football that has been played this season in a match that had everything but the goals clash. The game turned out to be one where both sides displayed tactical discipline from the onset till the end.
After the last clash against TTM Masandawana saw the return of Denis Onyango and Mosa Lebusa to the starting eleven in place of Ricardo Goss and Ricardo Nascimento.
Usuthu were the first to create a threat for The Brazilians but Lebusa and Lyle Lakay were ready to clear the danger as early as the fourth minute. Masandawana slowly found their feet and managed to make a number of quick passes in the middle to break AmaZulu down but could not manage to get to the final third. Thapelo Morena found himself in a great position as he was picked out by Lakay and his effort just went past the goals of the home side. Rushine De Reuck who was making his eighth consecutive start was marshalling Augustine Mulenga and making sure that he does not get a clear shot at goal. The first half was like two pound-for-pound boxers matching each other in all aspects as the first stanza ended 0-0.
Ten minutes into the second half, Mulenga took a shot that hit the goal post and the resulting counter-attack saw the ball fall for Themba Zwane who had a chance to extend his goal tally for the season only for his effort to be saved by Veli Mlothwa in goals. Both teams kept displaying a high intensity and a great level of tactical discipline, Bafana Ba Style looked to the bench and brought on Aubrey Modiba for Gaston Sirino to beef up the firepower upfront. Within three minutes of being on the field Modiba had a chance to grab his first goal for the club but his shot was saved by Mlothwa and the ball fell for Shalulile and his diving attempt also could not hit the back of the net.
The result sees Mamelodi Sundowns maintain their unbeaten streak in the DStv Premiership after twenty- one games played.
How we lined up: Onyango, Morena, Lebusa, De Reuck, Lakay, Coetzee, Maboe, Mkhulise (Mudau 90’), Shalulile (Mvala 90′), Sirino (Modiba 73′), Zwane ( Motupa 73′)
Subs: Goss, Nascimento, Modiba, Onyango,Vilakazi, Mudau,Kapinga, Motupa,Mvala
Remain unbeaten while playing aimless football. This thing of our midfielders passing the ball aimlessly amongst themselves is really annoying. We committed about four mistakes which nearly resulted in goals. We conceded against CR Belouizdad and Stellenbosch from such mistakes and the players continue to do it even though I don’t see it’s point. Under Pitso we used to turn over the opposition’s defence with long range passese from the back to Billiat upfront and we used to punish a lot of teams. Kekana supplied most of those passes with his long range passes. You could see it wad something that wad done in training, but it seems Manqoba and Rhulani never learned anything from Pitso. Some of the substitutions leave much to be desired, Mkhulise was never in the game from the first whistle and was giving ball possession all the time through the same aimless passing. He was supposed to have been substituted instead of Sirino, but alas, it seems as if the three coaches are always watching a different game. This league is not over by any stretch I tell you, it’s still going to the wire. Our players are clearly flat tired. Yesterday I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the final whistle, celebrating a draw against AmaZulu.
Seconded member one thing I’ve noticed from our team are too many passes from the back untill the opposition regrouped, we dont cash them off guard you can swear possession win you games but goals,if its a boxing match no team can match but the problem with soccer you need to score.On many occasions Shalulile even goes to middlefield to collect the ball because he stays there upfront with no supply our middlefielders and defenders keep on back passing the ball and the main culprit on that is Mkhulise,Zwane and our leftwinger.
The days of the so called piano and shoeshine has passed lets adopt Bondarenko’s philosophy of attack attack till they surrendered.
Its worse because Mngqithi and Rhulani are the admirers of that football so we must live with it,the players we have this season I thought some teams will get a hiding of avalanche of goals but I was wrong with this possession football of no goals.Let’s hope next season will change and think about scoring not too much entertaining soccer.
There we go again about fatiand playing against well rested teams.Why are we keep on signing many players every season and then continue with the same line up in almost every games,yes players are not machines they get tired even the machines get some services inorder for them to perform at their best.Rhilani said before the game they will not cry about fatigue because we have good technical staff including conditioning team now our lovey Manqoba is crying about congested fixtures.
That’s what you get if you don’t rotate players,and we knew from the beginning that it will be like this,if you are associated with Downs you always sweat for you prosper, pls Wisemen rotate players and have confidence in them Affonso and Motupa are there to ease the load that is carried by Shalulile even Makgalwa,and Villa are also available, in the middlefield we have Kekana and Maluleka so why are we crying about playing in every three days whereas others are resting.
We can’t complain about playing many games when 70% of your players have played less than 30 minutes the whole season,it makes no sense at all.What is the use of having big squad?.I said it before cowards don’t succeed in football.You are destroying these players by over working them,this is exactly what Baxter did at chiefs with the likes of Chabalala,Yeye and Parker,once they are burnt out there’s no coming back you become useless.Players like Zwane and SIrino need to be managed better at their age,they need coaches who are brave to start them on the bench to starve them game time and make the more hungrier.Realistically you can’t eat too much foods no matter how delicious they are when your stomach is fully.Look at what suspension did to Maboe,it was a blessing in disguise to him,he was fresh energetic and hungry,he imposed himself and broke Amazulu’s attacks.Modiba and Motupa brought life to our game,they did more in 15 minutes than what Zwane and Sirino did in 75 minutes in terms of attacks.As are coach especially with that quality we have,you need to make it difficult for other coaches to plan against you by not bee so predictable in terms of team selection.At this stage of the season we need young fresh legs,we need players who can run at oppositions and those are Mkhuma and Makgalwa,hence Benni started the game with Qalinge who only played less than 30 minutes prior to our game because he knows his players and trusts them.It pains me to see you players who are less than 21 years like Foden(Man City) and Saka (Arsena)playing week in and week out and shining in the biggest league in the world while our younsters who are older than them sits in the stands.Haaland of Dortmont broke the fastest 20 goals in the biggest club level competition,(UEFA Champions league) and he is only 20.As a teacher and i think Kompela knows better,you walk with your head held up high in the street when some of your students become doctors,engineers,Professors etc knowing that a have produced and natured them.Make no mistake,i’m not saying Zwane and Sirino are bad players,they doing everything in their power to make the team succeed but,they are exhausted,played many games,some times in awkward time(13:00),they are no machines and we still need them,this is precisely what Pitso did to kekana,he played him in every game including friendlies,now if someone who doesn’t know him can coach Downs would never play him,it is like we are punishing these player.Players need to rest,they are not machine,even at work the polices say you cannot work from January to December without taking ten consecutive leave days.Not saying we played bad not at all,we had much better chances than them,their only chance hit the post,Onyango was a spectator the whole game.Just refresh the team,even Pepe can rests Sterling De Brune,Mahrez.
Every team is rotating to prevent burnt out,that’s why teams have got more than thirty players on their books and if they are not good enough or not on your plans just release them, last month I saw to one local publication that Divine Lunga of Arrows already signedwith us and earlier this week we also wanted to sign Ngobeni of Celtic whereas we have Lakay,Modiba and also Lunga if he comes,don’t forget we waisted our our on extended Langerman contract to another two years to why we did that I don’t really know because Langerman is old now and where all this leftwingers are gonna play, same as centreback we also chasing Zulu from Richards Bay and Sibisi from Arrows whereas we still have Onyango, De Reuck and Bangaly.If Downs or our new President is not careful the days of signing everybody seems to come back just because money is there and we mustn’t forget we still have many players on loan whom are coming back next season.
Sometimes I fully agree with those supporters that are always says we signs everyone just to prevent competition.