COMMENT: Why Sundowns have been dominant over rivals SuperSport United

The Tshwane Derby has been known to be explosive, captivating and exciting, but also rather one-sided of recent times.

In a similar fashion to the Tshwane Derby’s more hyped up cousin, the Soweto Derby, Mamelodi Sundowns have proven to have had SuperSport United's number for quite some sometime, especially in the league.

It has been 10 games since SuperSport last got one over their rivals in the league.

That last win came back in 2013 and only further displays the unrelenting nature of Sundowns' hold over their arch-rivals.

But it was not always the case, prior to Sundowns’ success under current Pitso Mosimane, it was the blue half of the capital city which dominated the city.

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However, ever since their time with Gavin Hunt at the helm, SuperSport have failed to find consistency. Whether it was playing staff or the technical team, there were changes. It also, didn’t help that some of the club’s best players ended up swapping Megawatt Park for Chloorkop.

Tebogo Langerman, Anthony Laffor, Reyaad Pieterse, Hlompho Kekana, Denis Onyango and Jeremy Brockie are all players who have at sometime or the other, donned the colours of SuperSport. These were arguably some of SuperSport’s most influential players and losing such players dented their ability to contend for Tshwane supremacy.

In many ways bringing in such prominent players, could have also been interpreted as a masterstroke by Sundowns in order to hamper their rivals especially considering that it was SuperSport who dominated SA football from 2008 until 2010.           

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Nevertheless, with Kaitano Tembo at the helm things are once again beginning to look up for SuperSport.

Not only are they far more organised but have built a team around some of SA’s most promising players such as Teboho Mokoena and Fagrie Lakay among others. This together with a blend of experienced campaigners, who have played for some of the PSL’s bigger clubs adds extra bite.

While many may argue that the Tshwane Derby is too one-sided to be seen as something exciting, there is a counter-argument to be made.

All derbies in the world go through a period where one team is dominant.

Look at the Manchester Derby where for years, Manchester United with the flavour of the day, or even closer to home the Soweto Derby where Orlando Pirates have been the dominant force of Soweto. Rather this creates an added premise that with every Derby that comes, there could be a change in the direction of the tide, which captivates audiences and hypes up the fans.

Although, the Tshwane Derby may not fill the stands the way its Soweto rivals does, it does bring about quality football, despite what is at stake.