Why Chiefs, Pirates & Co. ‘will struggle to beat Sundowns’

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs defender David Kannemeyer has lauded Mamelodi Sundowns for the progress they have made under coach Miguel Cardoso.

The Brazilians failed to win any domestic Cup last season but delivered the CAF Champions League trophy after more than a decade. In the ongoing campaign, Masandawana have already delivered FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup as well as MTN8.

Kannemeyer has praised Cardoso for the effective changes made, insisting it has helped improve the team and take them a step forward. He further argues the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Co. will get it hard to beat Sundowns.

Teams will struggle to stop Sundowns

“They have made a couple of good signings. Obviously, coach Cardoso, when he came in, changed some of the things that coach Pitso [Mosimane] and Rulani [Mokwena] left behind,” Kannemeyer said in an interview with FARPost.

“Obviously it took a little bit of time to rebuild, but I think they are back to where they belong and they are going to compete for everything. It’s proven that even with the MTN8, people are making noise about the penalty, but if you look at the overall performance in terms of how the coach changes the team every week, rotating because they are playing in many competitions, whoever plays still competes. That tells you a big story.

“Yes, surely [teams will struggle to stop Sundowns]. I think preparation is very key now for them. There are a couple of guys who have been overplayed, and that’s why he [Cardoso] is rotating.

“In my view, I think they will be able to compete because now he has rotated the squad and some guys have some rest. I think they will be able to compete,” he concluded.