Sports

The odds were stacked against Sundowns

By Kgomotso Mokoena
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The odds were stacked against Sundowns
Sundowns to take on struggling Orbit College Photo: @cafonline.com

The odds were really stacked against Mamelodi Sundowns. This season will go down in history as one of the most bizarre seasons in the history of local football.

Having covered football for 25 years, it is rather puzzling how the conclusion of the season was tailored. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns finishing the season while the rest of the PSL teams still have two matches to go is as perplexing as president Cyril Ramaphosa stashing $500 000 in his couch.

Even to the honest, Orlando Pirates die-hard supporters, who swear by the skull and bones sign, they know and will admit that grabbing their fifth PSL league title in the PSL era, will leave a bitter taste in their mouths. It seems like it was a situation of taking the league by hook or crook.

Sundowns navigated a severe fixture congestion, playing about eight matches in a month in their chase for the Betway Premiership race and the CAF Champions League.

Downs coach Miguel Cardoso highlighted the strain of playing every 3-4 days while in some instances, Pirates were given ample time to rest and to recharge their batteries.

I am certain that I speak for many diski supporters who grew tired of the PSL being turned into a farmers league with Sundowns dominating the marathon every season. But we did not want the domination to end in such a murky state of affairs. We were all in awe as the Buccaneers played some delightful diski, broke records, hammering clubs with a half-dozen goals and some with chesa-mpamas. It was also enchanting to see eSgodini sika Maminzela (Orlando Stadium) overspilling with human beings at all Pirates matches.

It was thrilling as they raised their hands and made the league competitive and as compelling as a Martin Scorcese offering. After all, Sundowns winning the league title eight times in a row, with the other 15 teams combined and still looking pathetic, was just unadultered monopoly.

But having said that, for Bucs, to be fortuitously assisted in getting over the line is a bit unsportsmanlike.

And Sundowns, having had to play three matches in six days is really taking the shine out Bucs’ astonishing season and overshadowing their rise as a force to be reckoned with.

The PSL prides itself as one of the best leagues in the world and since its inception in 1996, the league has grown in leaps and bounds.

The problem with the league is that they are not accountable or answerable to anyone. They do not give a toss about their spiritual owners [supporters], they are just too happy to see them fill the stadiums to capacity or by watching on TV and boosting the audience ratings.

Fans are up in arms and there’s no explanation coming forward to unpack the mysterious fixture scheduling. Or perhaps the league has a valid reason, or maybe because it’s a World Cup year, they had migraines in accommodating everyone, but their silence is deafening and we will never know. The only glaring aftermath is that Pirates seem to have gotten the buttered slice in all this fixtures mess – and what could have been one of the most spectacular league final sprint ever was nibbed like a cigarette bud.

Who will forget the Covid year when Kaizer Chiefs, who at some point had opened a 15-point gap at the top, and leading the log table for the whole season, were given a sucker punch by Baroka FCs’ Manuel Kambala with a dramatic equalizer that handed the league trophy to Sundowns on the last day. Those are moments self-respecting supporters live by.

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  • The current football season is regarded as one of the most bizarre in local football history.
  • Mamelodi Sundowns faced significant challenges, yet ended the season earlier than other Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams.
  • Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns finished their season while other teams still have two matches remaining.
  • The unusual conclusion of this season is puzzling even to a football reporter with 25 years of experience.
  • The article draws a controversial comparison, likening the situation to a political scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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The odds were really stacked against Mamelodi Sundowns. This season will go down in history as one of the most bizarre seasons in the history of local football.

Having covered football for 25 years, it is rather puzzling how the conclusion of the season was tailored. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns finishing the season while the rest of the PSL teams still have two matches to go is as perplexing as president Cyril Ramaphosa stashing $500 000 in his couch.

Even to the honest, Orlando Pirates die-hard supporters, who swear by the skull and bones sign, they know and will admit that grabbing their fifth PSL league title in the PSL era, will leave a bitter taste in their mouths. It seems like it was a situation of taking the league by hook or crook.

Sundowns navigated a severe fixture congestion, playing about eight matches in a month in their chase for the Betway Premiership race and the CAF Champions League.

Downs coach Miguel Cardoso highlighted the strain of playing every 3-4 days while in some instances, Pirates were given ample time to rest and to recharge their batteries.

I am certain that I speak for many diski supporters who grew tired of the PSL being turned into a farmers league with Sundowns dominating the marathon every season. But we did not want the domination to end in such a murky state of affairs. We were all in awe as the Buccaneers played some delightful diski, broke records, hammering clubs with a half-dozen goals and some with chesa-mpamas. It was also enchanting to see eSgodini sika Maminzela (Orlando Stadium) overspilling with human beings at all Pirates matches.

It was thrilling as they raised their hands and made the league competitive and as compelling as a Martin Scorcese offering. After all, Sundowns winning the league title eight times in a row, with the other 15 teams combined and still looking pathetic, was just unadultered monopoly.

But having said that, for Bucs, to be fortuitously assisted in getting over the line is a bit unsportsmanlike.

And Sundowns, having had to play three matches in six days is really taking the shine out Bucs’ astonishing season and overshadowing their rise as a force to be reckoned with.

The PSL prides itself as one of the best leagues in the world and since its inception in 1996, the league has grown in leaps and bounds.

The problem with the league is that they are not accountable or answerable to anyone. They do not give a toss about their spiritual owners [supporters], they are just too happy to see them fill the stadiums to capacity or by watching on TV and boosting the audience ratings.

Fans are up in arms and there’s no explanation coming forward to unpack the mysterious fixture scheduling. Or perhaps the league has a valid reason, or maybe because it’s a World Cup year, they had migraines in accommodating everyone, but their silence is deafening and we will never know. The only glaring aftermath is that Pirates seem to have gotten the buttered slice in all this fixtures mess – and what could have been one of the most spectacular league final sprint ever was nibbed like a cigarette bud.

Who will forget the Covid year when Kaizer Chiefs, who at some point had opened a 15-point gap at the top, and leading the log table for the whole season, were given a sucker punch by Baroka FCs’ Manuel Kambala with a dramatic equalizer that handed the league trophy to Sundowns on the last day. Those are moments self-respecting supporters live by.

Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content