Mamelodi Sundowns are not resting on their oars even though they have won the DStv Premiership four times in a row. The sweet taste of victory still lingers on their tongues, and they want to savor it for as long as possible.
Ahead of the new season, the team has wasted no time in whipping out the chequebook. Players have been marching in through the front door, drawing furtive glances their way by other clubs. The club is not unaware of this and has quickly clarified issues concerning their buying spree.
Going by information coming out of the club, the team is looking to the future. According to the club, the spending is to reduce the average age of the squad.
Mosimane, before he left the Brazilians, relied heavily on the senior players. He, however, attempted phasing out some of them, but in the big games, he depended on them to deliver.
The likes of Hlompho Kekana, Tebogo Langerman, Wayne Arendse and the late Anele Ngcongca were instrumental to the success of the team. When Mosimane left, a number of them were either shown the door or used sparingly. Sources within the club have denied that they were deemed surplus to requirements.
“You have to look at top clubs in Europe and how they have prepared their young players to step up over time. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were Chelsea’s core for such a long time, but they moved on,” a source privy to Down’s current approach explained.
“I think the best way to paint the picture is that the technical team does not want to have an over-reliance on experienced players. Yes, there is still room for Denis Onyango, Ricardo Nascimento and Themba Zwane, for instance.”
Deals for Katlego Mohammed, Sifiso Ngobeni, Neo Maema, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Grant Kekana and Divine Lunga have been concluded. The latter two are the only ones over the age of 26. Downs are making a big statement; they intend to keep their dominance for a while longer.
The age reduction of the squad seems to be a mandate from the hierarchy to co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena to look to the future.
The team expects its senior players to be past their sell-by date in a couple of years and are preparing for it.
“The technical team will be naïve to think players like Onyango, Nascimento and Zwane will still be at their best in three years. It only makes sense that their understudies begin the process to take over now,” said the insider.