Why Mamelodi Sundowns' Fifa Club World Cup exploits are bad news for their Premier Soccer League rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates

There’s no doubt, the Brazilians’ showing against superior opponents at the Club World Cup would have left their PSL rivals on notice.

Having won the local championship a remarkable eight times on the bounce, the Tshwane giants will once again be the team to beat when the new season starts.

Pirates were the closest challengers, but in the end, the Soweto giants were not a big enough threat to the mighty Sundowns as they strolled to yet another title.

Chiefs, on the other hand, couldn’t even break into the top eight, let alone challenge for the title, and realistically a long way away from posing any kind of threat to Downs.

Sundowns undoubtedly have the edge over all the other PSL teams when it comes to squad depth and quality, ensuring they almost always operate at a maximum level.

The Brazilians hardly ever experience challenges if they have bookings or injuries to key players, as they always have capable replacements.

The likes of Pirates, Stellenbosch FC and Chiefs, on the other hand, don’t have that luxury and often feel the effects of the absence of any of their top players.

Sundowns have always been criticised for snapping up all the talent ahead of their rivals on the transfer market because of their deep pockets; however, this is what keeps them so strong.

Their rivals simply have to be smarter and more creative in the market to compete with Downs as far as quality is concerned, which could reduce the gap on the pitch.

Downs’ local rivals would have seen how Miguel Cardoso’s side struggled with dealing with the high press, and this is an area they could exploit.

This weakness was laid bare by Dortmund, who forced the Tshwane giants to make some mistakes in dangerous areas before punishing them.

Whether the likes of Pirates, Chiefs, Stellies and other PSL teams will have the quality needed to put that kind of pressure on Downs is another story altogether. 

Chiefs, though, were able to get some joy with that similar approach in their Nedbank Cup clash with Sundowns last season, a match they won 2-1 to reach their final.

A few more PSL teams would have to take a leaf out of that book to cause Sundowns problems next season; however, it is easier said than done against the mighty Brazilians.

One can only imagine the kind of experience Sundowns will be able to pick up from their participation in the global competition.

Holding their own against the big boys of world football at the highest stage can only serve the Tshwane giants well, meaning they will return a much stronger unit.

This doesn’t bode well for teams hoping to challenge Downs domestically and on the continent, with Cardoso’s charges eager to put all that World Cup experience to good use.

Sundowns are set to receive a whopping R174 million just for participating in the Fifa Club World Cup, as well as R36 million for each victory during the group stage.

This substantial financial injection will enable Sundowns to easily maintain and enhance their stronghold in the PSL, ensuring their ongoing dominance.

This means not only can Downs get any player they want in South African football, but they can have their pick of top talent around the world.

Fifa Club World Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns

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