Is this the right time for Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Co. to win PSL? - Arthur Zwane confident 'there will be injuries, Mamelodi Sundowns players will get tired'

Mamelodi Sundowns played AmaZulu on Tuesday night in the Premier Soccer League game staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Usuthu did quite well but were eventually undone by Iqraam Rayners and Tashreeq Matthews' strikes that gave the defending champions maximum points.

Coach Arthur Zwane was, however, delighted with the display by his team.

The former Kaizer Chiefs coach has questioned whether Sundowns can effectively compete domestically and abroad.

He argues that their players played many matches last season with high intensity, and with the CAF Champions League on the way, they can't sustain their fitness.

'Mangethe' feels the likes of Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and other teams in Mzansi can capitalise on that, to end Masandawana's dominance.

Sundowns have won eight PSL titles in a row. 

"Obviously, right now, Sundowns were probably playing in third gear, so we also have to be smart if we are to compete with Sundowns – you have to capitalise, how? Sundowns will play Champions League, Sundowns players in the national team, there will be injuries," Zwane said as quoted by SABC Sport.

"It's going to be tough because Sundowns were playing the Club World Cup, and at some point their players will get tired – I'm talking from the players' perspective, because I played and I know.

"If you can play football for four years with the same pace, demands, travelling, and all that," he added.

"It's unlike in Europe, when they travel, it's two, three or four hours, but for Sundowns, and I know they can charter [flights], but you have to travel for 7-8 hours sometimes.

"So we just have to capitalise on that, but once again, they are a top team, there's no doubt about it. 

"It's good for South African football, and we have to gauge ourselves and get closer, so we learned a thing or two today," Zwane concluded. 

Zwane hopes to get his second win of the Premier Soccer League campaign next week Wednesday when they host Marumo Gallants, who are high in confidence following their back-to-back wins against Richards Bay and Orlando Pirates respectively.

For Masandawana, their toughest assignment this season, so far, will be on Saturday in the first leg of the MTN8 quarter-final against Pirates at Orlando Stadium. But league matches against Magesi, Chiefs and Stellenbosch before the international break will also test The Brazilians to the limit.