‘Jersey too heavy for him!’ Top analyst hints Bafana international can’t stand Sundowns, Chiefs or Pirates pressure

Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams has been struggling recently at Mamelodi Sundowns after a blistering start to his career with the club.

The 24-year-old joined the Brazilians in the middle of the 2024/25 Premier Soccer League campaign owing to his good showings at Stellenbosch. He continued delivering for Masandawana and, in the process, earned a place in the senior South Africa national team.

Adams has not started the 2025/26 season as he may have anticipated, making 12 appearances, most from the bench.

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye now believes Adam is failing because he can't meet the expectations and demands from the club consistently. The analyst has now urged the management to consider sending the versatile midfielder on loan. 

One may argue that Sundowns' tactics don't favour Adams, but…

“I’m not surprised because there are players for certain teams; these three big teams, Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns – it’s not easy to play for them. People can believe that or not but we have seen players go there like Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo. There are many. I’m just making an example with him,” Khanye told iDiski Times.

“One may argue that the tactics don’t suit him [Adams], but that jersey is heavy when you don it there are expectations. Each and every jersey number has a history behind it, so that alone puts pressure on you as a player.

“The boy is no longer himself because Sundowns is heavy for him, imagine benching [Sphelele] Mkhulise, who, to be honest, has not done anything to be benched. If they are being honest, he [Adams] is not giving Sundowns anything. He is struggling to live up to expectations; it would be better if they loaned him back to Stellenbosch to be closer to home.

“That environment would get the best out of him,” Khanye concluded.