Mamelodi Sundowns face season-defining second half after slow start

Mamelodi Sundowns had a disappointing first half of the season by their standards, and they were largely to blame for that.

A serial championship-winning team, having claimed the last eight titles, Sundowns are expected to dominate in every passing season. However, their title hopes have already been put in serious jeopardy by rivals Orlando Pirates.

Sundowns finished the year second on the log standings with 26 points, two behind the Sea Robbers, who are cruising in calm waters and also have a game in hand.

The Brazilians struggled to find consistency in domestic football as coach Miguel Cardoso failed to establish a clear structure and approach, resulting in individual brilliance shining through instead of a collective effort.

Nuno Santos has adapted seamlessly at the club, carrying the team through individual performances both in domestic and continental competitions. However, the Portuguese international could not do it alone - he needed the support and guidance of his teammates and the technical team.

Santos’ teammates, though, were inconsistent. This could be attributed to several factors, including fatigue - having hardly rested during pre-season due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup - or failing to move on from the departure of certain players, including Lucas Ribeiro, who were not only teammates but brothers as well.

On the flip side, apart from Santos and Miguel Reisinho, most of Sundowns’ new signings, including Katlego Ntsabeleng, who is on loan from FC Dallas, have failed to hit the ground running at the club.

While Cardoso will shoulder much of the blame for the team’s mishaps, it is every player’s responsibility to settle quickly at their new home, either to help the club succeed or to draw interest from other teams.

In the previous season, many players dreamt of playing for Sundowns due to their sheer dominance, which included winning the 2016 CAF Champions League under revered coach and son of the soil, Pitso Mosimane.

The team’s drought in continental football appears to be taking a toll on the players as well. They came very close to lifting the continental crown last season, but it was not to be, losing to Pyramids in the final.

Their frustration stems from the fact that they had put all their eggs in one basket, as it has almost become standard for them to win the domestic title with every passing season.

Like any other team in world football, Sundowns are not immune to injuries, having had a fairly busy medical room. Several players have limped off the pitch on more than one occasion this season after sustaining recurring injuries, including absences that ruled some out of AFCON, where Bafana Bafana went on to thrive and finish in yet another podium position.

Sure, Sundowns may be chasing the grand slam - the league title and continental crown - but they need to take domestic football seriously across the board. Losing both the Carling Knockout and the MTN8, which were eventually won by Pirates, may have played a significant role in the team’s inconsistency.

Winning creates a habit, and the Brazilians’ supporters, the Yellow Nation, had grown accustomed to that culture, often enjoying an edge over their Soweto rivals, especially on social media.

However, given all that has unfolded in the first half of the season, they have been silenced, with some resorting to #CardosoOut posts. The club’s decision not to heed those calls will be tested in the second half of the season, given the high expectations to win trophies year in and year out.

Sundowns cannot afford to look back - they must look ahead and learn from their lessons. After all, their struggles in the first half of the season were largely of their own making.