Mamelodi Sundowns maintained their 100% winning start in the Premier Soccer League with a controversial 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.
Ranga Chivaviro was on target for the Soweto giants but Lucas Ribeiro and Iqraam Rayners ensured Masandawana maintained the now 10-match unbeaten streak against the Glamour Boys.
The last time the Soweto giants defeated Sundowns was way back in April 2021. but the display witnessed this weekend showed Amakhosi fans have every reason to be optimistic in the ongoing campaign.
What did we learn?
Chivaviro revival?
Ranga Chivaviro was signed by Kaizer Chiefs to help get goals in the otherwise almost non-existent striking department.
His debut season ended with just four goals which was a downgrade from the 17 he scored in 30 matches for Marumo Gallants prior to his departure.
In the most recent transfer window, coach Nasreddine Nabi was desperate to get another striker to lead the attacking line. However, after failing to get his targets, Chivaviro has been handed another chance.
Two goals in as many league matches shows he is getting back to his best and his stay at the club might be a blessing in disguise.
Nabi doing good
Getting Chiefs back to the top was not going to be a child's play, but the Tunisian took the risk. He dumped AS FAR Rabat and opted to work with the Glamour Boys who wanted to rebuild after an embarrassing 10th-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign.
Nabi got seven new players, with Njabulo Blom, Gaston Sirino, Inacio Miguel and Bradley Cross leading the list. Fiacre Ntwari, Rushwin Dortley, and Bongani Sam are the other new signings at the club.
Despite failing to get his primary targets, the attitude at Naturena is changing. Forget the wins against Marumo Gallants and AmaZulu respectively, the display against Sundowns was overwhelming.
Masandawana were lucky to get the win and have Ronwen Williams to thank for that. But for Amakhosi faithful, Nabi is literally cooking!
Unconvincing Mngqithi?
Well, one of the promises the former AmaZulu coach made was a change of tactic from a possession one to a more direct approach. Chiefs exposed Sundowns' weakness at the back, and dominated the midfield in the second half.
It was obvious the changes the former Golden Arrows coach made were not as effective as he had anticipated.
It seemed after a shaky start, which saw his side getting eliminated from the MTN8, Mngqithi had turned the corner, but the shambolic display against Chiefs shows he still has a long way to go. Even a section of Masandawana fans believe so.
Bring VAR to end controversial calls
There have been numerous calls from the stakeholders to introduce the VAR in the Premier Soccer League.
It could have solved some questionable calls on Saturday like Rayners' goal where Lucas Ribeiro was seen to be in an offside position during the build-up.
Then came a late goal by Inacio Miguel that was denied; the fans were left confused whether the reason was a foul on Khuliso Mudau, or the scorer was in an offside position.
Rayners to win the Golden Boot?
The 28-year-old Bafana Bafana striker ended last season with 15 goals, just one less than the Golden Winner Tshegofatso Mabasa of Orlando Pirates. Masandawana snaped him from Stellenbosch after triggering his release clause.
Some might have questioned how he was going to get in front of Namibia international Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro and new signing Arthur Sales. However, after three games, now the question has been reversed, will Shalulile and Sales start ahead of Rayners?
The South African has so far scored three goals in as many league matches and looks set to go all the way.