Mamelodi Sundowns started the year 2024 in fine fashion but close it in uncertainty despite being top of the PSL table.
Sundowns marched to a seventh straight PSL title and won the inaugural African Football League but failed to win the CAF Champions League, falling at the semi-final stage yet again, while they also lost the Nedbank Cup final.
However, since that final, a lot has happened at Chloorkop with both coaches Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi receiving the boot while the club has missed out on both MTN8 and Carling Knockout.
The title fight is not a one-team affair anymore since Orlando Pirates have so far made the race tight, while their Champions League group campaign has been off to a shaky start.
Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso is the new man tasked with steadying the Sundowns ship and heading into the new year, the tactician and his team will be wishing for a number of things to happen for a successful 2024-25 campaign.
Find new style & identity
Part of the reason Mngqithi was sacked and Cardoso hired was the style of football that was deemed not good on the eye.
While Sundowns were still winning, they appeared to have lost their identity as there was a focus on wing play with the possession-based football and neat passing that made them so admired under Mokwena nonexistent.
Cardoso will therefore need to find a clear way of playing which will make fans happy while also producing results.
Open up a giant league lead
Sundowns will be wishing that Pirates can fall off much earlier so that they march to another league title.
The Brazilians have been accustomed to entering the new year with a double-digit lead but things have changed this time.
With a tight title race, it means they cannot rotate as much, since they need all their big hitters around which will be detrimental to their Champions League aspirations.
If they can get some breathing space, then they can afford to take some risks in the league and go all out on the continent, hence the need to open up a significant lead in the PSL. This, however, means not dropping points in the early months of 2025.
Get other new signings firing
Sundowns’ only new signing that seems to be repaying the huge outlay is Iqraam Rayners who cannot seem to stop scoring.
The ex-Stellenbosch striker has so far netted 12 goals in 15 games but the same cannot be said of the other offseason arrivals.
Brazilian Arthur Sales has taken time to get going, with fans yet to see what he can offer, winger Kabelo Kodisang hardly plays, with just six appearances so far, same as 19-year-old defender Asekho Tiwani, while defender Kegan Johannes is yet to get a start.
Having these players contributing will be crucial to how far Sundowns go in all the competitions that they are challenging in, given injuries and fatigue will also kick in at some point.
Get Themba Zwane fit
The importance of captain Themba Zwane to the side cannot be overemphasised and the team is currently missing his magic following his long-term injury in October.
Zwane suffered a muscle tear while on international duty and is out until late January or early February and he will be needed back quickly as the team is crying out for some creativity given the current struggles of Brazilian playmaker Lucas Ribeiro.
Mshishi may be 35 but he was proving a key cog before the injury as he would lift the team whether starting or from the bench but now, the team is relying on some moments of Brilliance to win, something Sundowns are not known for.
CAF Champions League glory
The main reason Mokwena is in Morocco and not Chloorkop while his successor Mngqithi is unemployed is lack of success on the continent.
Back-to-back semi-final appearances were deemed not enough, costing Mokwena his job, while uninspiring draws at the start of the group stage campaign this season saw Mngqithi sacked.
Cardoso must therefore deliver Champions League glory or he will also follow the rest out of the door since Sundowns have made winning the continental title a priority this season.
