“Chiefs vs Sundowns signals the best of SA football” – Marawa

• PSL Pick of the week: Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns
• Kick-off: Saturday, 28 September, 15:00
• Venue: FNB Stadium
• Live on Showmax Premier League

“Kaizer Chiefs versus Mamelodi Sundowns is and has always been a high profile game in South African football. It’s a high pressure game, and for me it’s also a game that just signals the best of SA football. It’s a sell-out affair. You don’t even need to worry about what form both the teams are in, but when you mention Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs it just brings historically the thought of a team that has now currently for the past decade plus been dominating South African football which is Mamelodi Sundowns, to Kaizer Chiefs who have for the past decade disappointed, have had no trophies, have disappointed their fans with changing coaches and really having no structure and no vibe going in their team.

“It’s a case of Sundowns doing what Chiefs used to do historically which is win, win, win, get trophies and really embellish their football to the myriad of their fans. So what we are looking forward to this time round is a clash that sees Mamelodi Sundowns under coach Manqoba Mngqithi really holding the fort. He’s been very bold, he’s made some big decisions, and he’s taken a decision against two regular Bafana Bafana players in Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau.

“They have been absent from the Sundowns team for four games in a row. They haven’t played and lots of people have been asking why. Is it a discipline issue? Whatever it is, he has made and taken a bold decision, but it has worked because they have got the results. And even their last game against Marumo Gallants, they looked outstanding and bagged four goals. This is the first time Sundowns scored three goals in a gamesince May 2024. Ironically, that’s when they played Kaizer Chiefs, so can they do the same this time round again? All I can say is that despite Mokoena and Mudau not playing for Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Hugo Broos has selected them for the AFCON preliminary team that will be playing against the Congo in October.

“So that aside, let’s look at the positives. Tashreeq Matthews has been outstanding. What a game he had against Marumo Gallants. He not only scored, but provided two assists in the game as well. Sundowns also had a handful of different scorers in the game, and that for me will be the difference between Sundowns and Chiefs. Matthews got the man of the match in the game against Gallants and he fully deserved it.

“So, what do Chiefs bring to the table? They bring Nabi. Nabi brings hope. Nabi brings a technical team of his own. Nabi just plays the kind of football that Chiefs are hoping they can play for the rest of the season. On matchday one, Chiefs walked away victorious against Gallants. They then travelled to Durban and defeated Amazulu, and so it’s a case of them keeping that winning momentum going right up until the end of the season.

“They have had no trophies for nearly a decade, can they change that? Some of the positives showing through; well, Gastón Sirino is showing why heis wearing that famed number 10 jersey at Chiefs. People looked at him and said age won’t be on his side, Age matters not in such games so he will look take charge.

“But the big question is, can the strikers do something at Chiefs? We have seen in the past, midfielders and defenders contributing. But when will Ashley Du Preez return to the form that saw him once so feared. Christian Saile and Ranga Chivaviro need to start dominating. Chiefs always had red hot strikers and this time round they are not delivering and that for me is the biggest worry on their side.

“The game is set to be a sold out affair and I am really looking forward to this one.”

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