On Mamelodi Sundowns losing to Esperance in the CAF Champions League semi-final
Despite losing both legs of the semi-finals and getting knocked out of the CAF Champions League, overall, I think Mamelodi Sundowns did well in terms of playing in the opposition's half and trying to create opportunities. But at the same time, we have to be honest because Peter Shalulile is not at his best. We can't blame him for not scoring because as a striker, you won't be able to score goals all the time – it's just that right now he is not at his best. But I believe that the work ethic he has been putting in has been good and it's only that killer instinct and putting the ball into the back of the net on a regular basis that is missing. To go back to the game against Esperance, I would have preferred to start with Themba Zwane. Mshishi is one of those players, who knows how to make the team play in the final third of the pitch. He knows how to make the team control the match in the final third, he knows how to play into pockets of spaces, he knows how to protect the ball and pass the ball into small spaces. That is what was lacking in Sundowns' game against Esperance in the second leg.
Sometimes, when Themba Zwane starts the match, he would get substituted on the 70th minute even though he is still playing well. Those type of players, you don't have to take them out. Just keep them inside the field because their presence makes so much difference because the opponents know how dangerous they are. When a player starts on the bench, it drops his confidence, unless the coach explained his reasons for starting him on the bench. Zwane's presence is very important, and he could have a lot of difference in that match especially in the final third. Shalulile combines well with Mshishi and when Mshishi is not playing, he is not getting those balls. The second point I would like to make is that, Thembinkosi Lorch is not clicking well with Mamelodi Sundowns at the moment. The type of football that he is playing is different to the style played by Sundowns. But I believe that, maybe by next season, he will be able to click well with his teammates.
On Shalulile failing to score against Esperance
I think it was a confidence problem because he was too eager to score. He needs to continue working hard because that happens to the best players around the world. Look at Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, he didn't score as many goals as he did last season. But Shalulile is an experienced player, and he needs to continue working and not drop his confidence. Lorch, on the other hand, will take a little bit longer to adapt to the Sundowns style of play. Sundowns is a team that plays with wingbacks, players like Khuliso Mudau and Divine Lunga and wingers go inside to try and overload the midfield. When Lorch is playing, Sundowns always change their system just to accommodate him because he is someone who likes to hug the touchline. And that tends to change the whole complexion of their game. Even then, when he hugs the line, can he penetrate? Can he make those runs behind the defenders and get the ball and the answer is no. Can he be able to cut inside and take shots on target? The answer is again no. What he does, he passes the ball backwards and that is something that is not helping Sundowns that much. But he still has time, he still needs to learn, and I believe they quickly played him even though he needs time (to adapt). What tends to be another problem is when he loses ball possession, his reaction is not good. At Sundowns whenever you lose the ball, you need to press to try and recover it immediately.
On Sundowns' performance in the Champions League compared to last season
If you want to compare Sundowns' CAF Champions League compared to last season – they did very well this season. Their game was integrated, you saw a lot of crosses inside the box, you saw them bypassing opponents' midfield with long balls and the only thing that was missing was players next to Shalulile. Sundowns were knocking the ball around without any penetration and that didn't help. Sometimes there were openings where they were supposed to play the ball and break the lines – instead they would circulate the ball around. And if there's an opponent in front of them, they would turn back and pass the ball (backwards). In this season's semi-final, second leg, they did very well. There was a lot of time when they got into opponents' box, the only difference was that they did not score. But in terms of trying to suffocate the opponents, the play in the opposition's half and around the box I think they did very well. I was telling the AmaZulu assistant coach, Siboniso Vilakazi, that if Mamelodi Sundowns can play like that in the DStv Premiership, they can kill a lot of teams.
On how long it will take for Sundowns to win the Champions League again
I think it will take a season or two before they can win the CAF Champions League. When Pitso Mosimane was the coach, he would say: "If Sundowns wants pretty football, I will give it to them and if they want a football that will win them trophies, I can do that". And that is something that he managed to do well because Sundowns at the time were playing well but what was important was that they win trophies. Pitso did not care about pretty football, he cared about winning trophies. If you can check how many trophies, he has now it's unbelievable. At the end of the day, you can have ball possession 90 percent, but the results of the game always favoured him.
On Sundowns qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Playing at the FIFA Club World Cup in USA will be a very good experience for Mamelodi Sundowns. It's a big achievement for them to reach this tournament and they need to go there and make their mark. I think they will do well because when you play against teams from Europe, they like to press. If Sundowns can play their type of football, knocking the ball around, creating chances they will succeed. We know that European clubs hate that. But whatever Sundowns decides to do, it needs to have an end product because you can circulate the ball around as much as you want, but if you don't take shots – you will end up losing. In terms of their squad, they need to have different type of players. Shalulile is not strong aerially, let's be honest. Whenever they are at the FIFA Club World Cup or Africa, they need the Phil Masinga or Shaun Bartlett type of a striker – someone that will always be around the box. Whenever they play those crosses that striker will always be there – someone who is strong aerially and can shield opponents off the ball. Shalulile is mobile but it's rare to always find him inside the box.
Phelelani Mpangase,
former Mamelodi Sundowns player
