Ex-Pirates coach predicts who will stop Sundowns’ dominance

Erstwhile Orlando Pirates coach Gordon Igesund predicts which team can be able to stop Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance in the upcoming season.

The three-time Premier Soccer League winner with Manning Rangers, Pirates, and Cape Town Santos coach said it’s high time DStv Premiership clubs upped the ante to stop Masandawana.

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In his assessment, Igesund believes Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United, and Pirates have assembled good squads to fight coach Rulani Mokwena’s troops.

EX-PIRATES COACH PREDICTS WHO CAN STOP SUNDOWNS

The reigning league champions, Sundowns are gunning for their seventh consecutive league crown and Igesund shares his predictions.

He argues that SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt is more experienced to pose a serious challenge to Sundowns while he also backs Jose Riveiro of Pirates.

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On the other hand, he believes the Chiefs’ squad led by Molefi Ntseki can be able to fight Sundowns until the end of the upcoming season.

“Of course, Gavin can challenge for the title. I mean he is an experienced coach and he has done it before. Coaches don’t become bad coaches overnight,” Igesund told Sowetan.

“They will always be challenged, questioned and if he is able to get it right with the players now and do his job, I know he can do his job at SuperSport because they allow the coach to do his job there.

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“I’m sure he can; it is about time that someone tries to challenge Sundowns. Sundowns have done brilliantly, they have set the standard so high.

“Not only SuperSport but Kaizer Chiefs and other teams. Pirates have also got into the situation where they also want to challenge.”

While he has tipped the trio, Chiefs, SuperSport, and Pirates to fight for the coveted league title, the former Bafana Bafana coach also urges all the other PSL teams to come to the party.

Looking at last season’s standings, the Buccaneers claimed the second spot while Matsatsantsa finished third, and Amakhosi took the fifth spot.

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HUNT ON WHY SUNDOWNS, CHIEFS AND PIRATES WILL BE TOUGH

In a recent post, The South African reported that Hunt predicted that the defending champions, Sundowns are always title favourites to win the league.

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At the same time, he praised Chiefs and Pirates for bringing in quality players ahead of the Premiership season.

With two weeks before the start of the new season, Hunt also hopes for an improved showing after finishing third in the previous term.

“Sundowns have found a formula and have put the money where their mouth is. They go out and get what they want,” said Hunt.

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