It's not quite 'Jingles' all the way for Mamelodi Sundowns as Orlando Pirates threaten their throne

It's at times such as these that the discerning soccer fan no doubt misses Pitso Mosimane. As Orlando Pirates sit pretty on the perch of the Betway Premiership table, threatening to bring an end to Mamelodi Sundowns’ domination of the domestic championship, the silence from Chloorkop is deafening.

"Jingles" would have been throwing jabs at the Buccaneers. He would be making them feel like they are merely warming the spot. He would be making them doubt themselves, wondering if they are worthy of the championship.

Damn, he’d have even insinuated they are at the top because they are owned by the league’s chairman. It's a journalist’s dream — content, as the kids say today. But more than that, he spiced up the championship race. He made our football exciting.

Pirates, though, are making the league exciting for once, the Buccaneers on a fantastic run that sees them enjoying a two-point lead over Sundowns with a game in hand.

It is an unfamiliar situation for the Brazilians, and the big question is whether they have — in Miguel Cardoso — the kind of coach who can lift them back to the top and eventually hold on to their title. Granted, he took them to the CAF Champions League final and helped them win the league title after taking over from Manqoba Mngqithi early in the past campaign.

Questions about his playing style have abounded and, as Sundowns stuttered in this initial stage of the season, getting knocked out of both the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout and being usurped by the Buccaneers at the top of the table, the noise has grown louder.

Have Sundowns erred in hiring Cardoso?

The answer from Chloorkop is sure to be a resounding NO — and with good reason too: last year’s Champions League final appearance, the league title, as well as the fact they remain in the running to retain the domestic championship.

But the fact that Sundowns no longer dominate the Bafana Bafana squad, having been overtaken by Pirates in that regard, seems to suggest the Brazilians are no longer the kings of the local game. And there are those who feel that Cardoso is to blame, given the way he is using some of his players, who thus underperform. That’s their view, of course. Cardoso is sure to tell you that it is bull-dust.

Whatever the views, the reality is that this season’s Sundowns have fallen on some hard times and run a serious risk of losing their title.

The good thing for them is that they have the upcoming festive break to work on themselves and try to return to the glory days of previous seasons. Cardoso and his team have the challenge of competing in both the CAF Champions League and the Betway Premiership.

Of course, the ultimate prize for them will be winning on the continent. But such has been their dominance locally that finishing second will be considered a failure. And losing the title to Pirates would hurt even more.

And as this contest for domestic glory continues, I find myself wishing Sundowns had a coach like Pitso Mosimane — someone who would take the battle off the pitch too.