Former Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has given Mamelodi Sundowns a nod of confidence to win the league for a fourth successive time despite the season being only half-way through.
In an interview for KickOff, Tinkler placed the high-flying Brazilians in a class of their own and identified areas for rivals to bolster if they want to catch up.
“I think Mamelodi Sundowns are favourites to take it, I think that’s pretty obvious from what we’ve seen,” Tinkler said. “The way the team is performing right now you know, I don’t think anybody can truly compete with them.”
Mamelodi have been in stellar form this year and are yet to taste defeat since October last year, when they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Bloemfontein Celtic in the MTN 8.
Currently, they lead the PSL pack with four points to second Golden Arrows and have two games in hand. Things don’t look too different one the CAF front too, where they lead their group with a clean sheet.
“I think the ones who have underperformed have probably been Orlando Pirates, considering the amount of players that have come in and the quality they have.
“I think realistically Orlando Pirates should be competing a lot better than what they have, 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.”
The winners of the 2016 CAF Champions League have dominated the PSL in the last seven years, having won no less than five titles during that time.
The success has bred Mamelodi dreams to topple Egyptian clubs Al Ahly and Zamalek from the ‘Best African Club’ throne. And judging by their progress, it’s hard to deny them that ambition.
Despite this, Tinkler still believes there’s time for clubs in South Africa to strengthen and give the Sundowns a run for their money, eventually.
“SuperSport I think probably they have performed, I don’t think too many people expected to find them where they are right now you know. A lot of credit must obviously be given to Kaitano and the players. But I think Mamelodi Sundowns are still too strong. SuperSport are a young team, so understand there’s a lot of inexperience.
“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. “
The Swallows have drawn four and lost one in their last five games and now trail four points behind third-place Orlando Pirates but have two games in hand.
“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.”