Sundowns players celebrate a late winning goal scored by Peter Shalulile during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 game between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at Danie Craven Stadium on 13 March 2021 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Tinkler backs Mamelodi Sundowns to make history with fourth straight title
Eric Tinkler doubts anyone in the Premiership has the power to prevent Mamelodi Sundowns from powering to a fourth PSL title in a row.
Sundowns players celebrate a late winning goal scored by Peter Shalulile during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 game between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at Danie Craven Stadium on 13 March 2021 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Former Bafana Bafana defender and Premier Soccer League coach Eric Tinkler believes that nobody can stop Mamelodi Sundowns from becoming the first team to win the Premiership four times in a row.
Tinkler backs Mamelodi Sundowns for PSL glory
Mamelodi Sundowns have twice won a hat-trick of league titles including their current streak, while SuperSport United are the only other team to claim three in a row during the PSL era.
Sundowns haven’t missed a beat this season despite the departure of their most successful coach Pitso Mosimane at the outset of the term.
As of Sunday morning (14 March), Sundowns hold a four point advantage over their nearest rivals and due to Caf Champions League commitments, have played less matches than any other team in the league.
While that points difference is not insurmountable, Tinkler believes Mamelodi Sundowns will run away with the PSL this season and claim their 11th Premiership title.
“I think Mamelodi Sundowns are favourites to take it, I think that’s pretty obvious from what we’ve seen,” Tinkler told KickOff.com.
“The way the team is performing right now you know, I don’t think anybody can truly compete with them. I think obviously the ones who have underperformed have probably been Orlando Pirates considering the amount of players that have come in and the quality that they have.
“I think realistically Orlando Pirates should be competing a lot better than what they have you know, but I think the quality of Mamelodi Sundowns is always going to be better than every other club, that’s a fact you know, they are the richest club in South Africa. They tend to buy whoever they want, because they can afford to.”
Consistency is key
Tinkler believes that none of the contenders to gazump the mighty Sundowns can manage the kind of consistency needed to claim the league title.
He added: “SuperSport I think probably they have performed, I don’t think too many people expected to find SuperSport where they are right now you know. A lot of credit must obviously be given to Kaitano [Tembo] and the players. But I think Mamelodi Sundowns are still too strong. SuperSport, it’s a young team hey, so understand there’s lot of inexperience. So like I said, Orlando Pirates underperformed, Sundowns favourites to win the league again I think.
“Swallows have been a massive surprise you know, and I think the confidence and the morale and all of that is very, very high, hence the fact that they are a very difficult team to beat. But the question is obviously whether they can keep that going for the rest of the season. You know there’s still quite a few games to be played and the question is, eventually they are going to lose [more matches]. That’s going to happen.
“And the question is going to be how do they respond after that loss. Do they have the mental strength to get over that loss, and still carry on that momentum and that confidence they’ve been having so far this season? But again like I said, they are probably exceeding their own expectations, which is only normal. But again you know, realistically they shouldn’t be able to compete against a team like Mamelodi Sundowns with the quality that Sundowns have versus what they have.”
