With Mamelodi Sundowns getting ready for the start of their CAF Champions League campaign, the club's success should be seen as a wake-up call for other teams, according to veteran coach Jacob Sakala.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena will hope that the team's recent triumph in the African Football League will be enough motivation in their quest to conquer the continent in a different competition.
The Brazilians are scheduled to play their opening group match against FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Nouadhibou defeated Real Bamako of Mali 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the group stages of the competition.
Other Group A participants are Pyramids of Egypt and TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sakala says it is high time that other PSL teams take a leaf out of Downs' book, while also weighing on the growing big coach tag in the country.
The Good
"The way I see things, what you see at Sundowns is a result of Pitso's work. He started it and the whole success is a continuation of that. Sundowns had coaches before and a lot of them failed and Pitso came and started the culture of winning. Pitso laid the foundation which those who are there now are building their own success on and there is nothing wrong with that. Apart from the head coach (Mokwena) who is there and doing well, there is Manqoba (Mngqithi) who is also very experienced and his contribution is vital," said Sakala.
The Bad
"The success of Sundowns is putting pressure on all the other teams in the league because they are like a moving train and are leaving almost everybody behind. That's why I am not a fan of coaches putting themselves into big shoes even if they are not sure they will deliver. A lot of people claim to be big coaches and if that is the case, I can also raise my hand to say that I am a big coach," the coach added.
The Ugly
"There was no proper football in Limpopo before I coached there, and I introduced football in that province. I proved myself at Mpumalanga Black Aces where a lot of coaches had failed, and the club was non-existent, and I revived them. Aces was last on the log, and I transformed them into a better team. I assembled a very good team, and we were playing a beautiful brand of football," he said.
'It isn't my intention to speak badly about another coach'
"It was very good. Mabhuti Khenyeza, who is now doing well as a coach was part of that Aces team as a player and he was good. I brought several players there in the likes of Thabo Qalinge, Ryan Rae and others. Bradley Cross, who is also doing well now, is also from my hands and I promoted him but unfortunately the owners sold the club. Thabo Nodada, Judas Moseamedi and Given Mashikinya came from my hands, and I promoted them. For example, I spoke about Cavin Johnson that I don't think he will make it at Chiefs, and it isn't my intention to speak badly about him or another coach for that matter, but I still maintain that I don't see things changing there under him," concluded Sakala.
How can Chiefs, Pirates and co. emulate Downs?
