OBAKENG MELETSE
Cape Town City’s 1-0 win over a Rulani Mokwena-led Mamelodi Sundowns ensured that the champions fell just short at the final hurdle in chasing a perfect season as they romped to a seventh title in a row.
It was a bittersweet moment and they were again left deflated more than a week later, as Orlando Pirates’ Relebohile Mokoena’s touch of class stunned Sundowns in the dying moments of extra-time in the Nedbank Cup final.
Heads have rolled since then, with Mokwena the biggest name felled.
Out with the old and in with the old ... well, sort of ... as Steve Komphela has returned to the club and along with Manqoba Mngqithi, will be tasked with securing one of the trophies that eluded the Brazilians last season – the MTN8 – lost 3-1 to nemesis Pirates.
Former Sundowns midfielder and winner of eight league titles, Hlompho Kekana, believes that while change is scary, it will not change the fact that Sundowns remain SA’s premier title-winning club.
“I look at the players we have,” said Kekana yesterday, ”and I believe they have what it takes to win football matches and trophies.
“Football teams are measured by how many trophies they have won, and even the players that are currently playing are measured by how many trophies they have won. I stand here proud to have won eight league titles.
“If you want to be among the greatest to have played the game, you need to win trophies. Sundown gives the players the platform to do so, and I think it’s the mandate of the club to win trophies, it’s a must.”
Kekana doesn’t feel the absence of Mokoena will upset the team, but expects the pairing of Komphela and Mngqithi to steady the ship as they have an idea of the culture of the club.
“We are talking about coaches that have been with the club for over two years, three or four. I have worked with Manqoba for over six years. He knows the club and the requirements but the mandate remains the same – he has to win trophies and football matches. The hot seat requires trophies for Sundowns.”
Sundowns will play Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-final next weekend and they will quickly need to make the necessary adjustments to begin the new season better than they ended the last one. Kekana believes no trophy will take preference over the other but they need to win everything on offer.
“Every trophy is important if you look at a successful team like Al Ahly. If you were to ask them which trophy they would prefer to win, they will tell you every trophy is important and Sundowns needs to be at the same level as those teams,” he concluded.