Mamelodi Sundowns 2021/22 Preview – Tactics, Squad And Recruitment

Mamelodi Sundowns won a fourth straight league title last season despite the departure of Pitso Mosimane to Al Ahly. The inventive decision to appoint co-coaches in Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi with Steve Komphela as a “senior coach” worked a treat as the three wise men worked in perfect harmony, losing one match in the entire league season. Will they march to a fifth straight crown this season? Do we even need to bother asking?

Last Season

Sundowns spent big in the last off-season with a good R50m on transfer fees and around R35m added to their annual salary bill. They had the best squad, best starting XI and expectations to win the league. And still, they exceeded those high expectations with a spectacular PSL campaign. They lost only one match and that was a major smash-and-grab by Kaizer Chiefs in round 24. Really, Sundowns beat themselves that day.

When you consider the tragic loss of the outstanding, captain-in-waiting, Motjeka Madisha, the way they kept focus and produced such a strong defensive record was something to be proud of. They won the title earlier than any team since Chiefs in the 2014/15 season, had the best defence, were unbeaten on the road and had the longest unbeaten start in PSL history.

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They did that by also refreshing the side by phasing out older players like Tebogo Langerman, Wayne Arendse, the late, great Anele Ngcongca (who was set for a loan at AmaZulu before his tragic death), Tiyani Mabunda and Hlompho Kekana. To do that when the head coach had just left and risk a vacuum in leadership took real balls from the coaching staff.

So many players contributed along the way but a microcosm of their season was that their first ten matches saw Mosa Lebusa start none but then come in and arguably play better in the next 20 than any other central defender in the division. Mothobi Mvala even dropped into defence during an injury crisis and did a great job for the team. Peter Shalulile was the star man up front though in every possible facet you’d demand of a striker whilst Themba Zwane netted 10 league goals.

Recruitment

After a massive window prior to the 2019-20 season as Peter Shalulile, Kermit Erasmus, Aubrey Modiba and Mothobi Mvala headline a big recruitment drive, this off-season has been about very shrewd additions. They could make a big impact but could also be bit-part players – Sundowns don’t NEED a massive impact from them.

Grant Kekana will give a defensive right-back option for the CAF Champions League like Ngcongca used to do but can also provide competition in central defence. Divine Lunga was sensational for Golden Arrows last season and made BET Central’s PSL team of the Year. Alongside Lakay, Downs have the league’s top two left-backs and such is their attacking threat that opponents will have to structure themselves around stopping this weapon. It does feel like a third left-back in Sifiso Ngobeni is overkill though with Modiba able to play there. The former Bloemfontein Celtic man could do with a loan.

PSL Team of the Season – 2020/21

Also arriving is Neo Maema, a talented left-footed winger or number ten who Rhulani Mokwena has said replaces the delivery and angles that Keagan Dolly brought a few seasons back. Downs have also added Thabiso Kutumela from Maritzburg United, who had a red-hot run of form last season once being made captain. He is outstanding between the lines but is a player who really does need to play weekly to find rhythm and form.

The final notable addition is Slovak striker Pavol Safranko. He is an unknown quantity and could surprise the league like Samir Nurkovic did. He looks adept with his back to goal and appears much more mobile than Mauricio Affonso. The only drawback is that his selection may see Shalulile shunted wide where he does a good job but isn’t at his most dangerous.

Diamonds Aren’t Forever

Downs started last season with a midfield diamond which accommodated Shalulile and Erasmus as a front two. The latter looked amazing initially but his goals dried up and his injury problems came to the fore. Other shapes have been used too but the template is the same in general. A back four which features width from the fullbacks, at least two midfielders capable of breaking up play (Sphelele Mhkulise and Lebohang Maboe alongside the country’s best holding midfielder in Rivaldo Coetzee often made it three tenacious players in the engine room) and then three or four narrow attackers. It looked like a 4-3-2-1 against Chiefs last weekend with Zwane and Modiba in support of Shalulile with Haashim Domingo deeper. We’ve also seen Downs swap their fullbacks around and have Thapelo Morena down the left and a left-footer down the right within matches.

Since the coaching change, Downs have played even more football on the deck and built up from the back even more often than before. Denis Onyango’s improvement in his mid-to-late thirties with his feet is a tribute to the work of the technical team.

Tactically, Sundowns have solutions to most problems and the line trotted out so many times before is: even if you analyse Masandawana in great detail and they don’t surprise you, it doesn’t mean you can actually stop. Sundowns are inevitable, they’re that good.

Squad Depth

The squad is so stacked that many squad members haven’t even made the depth chart including George Maluleka and Sibusiso Vilakazi. The only area you could worry is at centre back if Ricardo Nascimento takes longer than expected to recover from injury. He has not been registered for action just yet as he looks to overcome an injury. The ageing Brazilian is still a class act and kept 13 clean sheet in 17 PSL starts last season!

One other slight concern could be central midfield. Lebohang Maboe was crucial last season but may need surgery on an Achilles injury. Should Rivaldo Coetzee get injured, the engine room would function significantly less smoothly. For that reason, it’s worth keeping Hlompho Kekana around even though he only suits playing in a double pivot (and therefore not in a midfield diamond). Maybe Maluleka will have more involvement than expected after all!

It is also possible that Gaston Sirino departs the club (as he looks an option for Al Ahly, maybe if they fail to secure Percy Tau) or that he stays but looks largely disinterested like at times last term. Selling him and removing any sideshow may be worth it.

Verdict

Sundowns should win the league. They are the best team, have the best players, the best technical team, are arguably the best conditioned side and have the biggest transfer and salary budget. They are also the best team to watch stylistically in the division. It’s fanciful to think that anyone can stop them.