Mamelodi Sundowns will have to start getting used to life without their talisman, Lucas Ribeiro Costa. As sad as it is for the legions of Masandawana, they will have to start accepting the heartbreaking development and start dealing with their loss today when they face Magesi FC in a Betway Premiership league match that the league has brought forward.
On Friday, Spanish second division club Cultural Leonesa officially announced that it had signed the swashbuckling Brazilian after he terminated his contract with Sundowns.
A few days earlier, on Monday, in a move that caught the SA diski fraternity by surprise, Ribeiro bid farewell to Sundowns supporters. Sundowns are challenging the move, and the matter is on the desk of the Fifa Football Tribunal.
So, against Magesi, coach Miguel Cardoso’s players will have to prove to their supporters that they are not a one-man team and that they can cope with the loss of Ribeiro, who scooped major accolades at the PSL Awards last season.
In their last match before the Fifa break, Peter Shalulile was the main man when Sundowns defeated Stellenbosch FC 1-0 at Athlone Stadium. The only goal of the match saw the Namibian forward breaking the ultimate PSL record of the all-time top goal scorer with 130 goals.
Sundowns showed a bit of intent and played with a strong command, dominated the exchanges and created more chances – this means that Magesi will have to bring their A-game if they want to stop the defending champions from stomping all over them.
Magesi have not won a single game in the five matches they have played so far. A win against Sundowns, which they managed to pull in the final of the Carling Knockout last season, will boost their confidence.
On Tuesday, Kaizer Chiefs will return to action after the September Fifa international break with a blockbuster clash against log leaders Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium.
Both teams sit tied on 13 points after five matches, with Sekhukhune edging ahead on goal difference.
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the fixture has been moved forward to Tuesday evening by the PSL.
With four wins and one draw apiece, neither side has tasted defeat this season.
