The Amakhosi defender has insisted that the Glamour Boys cannot afford any complacency as they prepare for a vital encounter against the Bloemfontein-based outfit. With the race for continental qualification reaching its boiling point, the 25-year-old is adamant that the Soweto giants must build on their recent Derby performance to secure maximum points.
The Brazilians have lost some footing in the Premier Soccer League title race and are now pushing hard to reclaim their top form. With Orlando Pirates at the top of the table, the pressure is firmly on Masandawana to respond and return to the summit.
The Soweto giants have shown a marked improvement in their performances, a resurgence that has lifted them to third place on the table. Their recent displays suggest a team finding rhythm at just the right moment in the campaign. Crucially, some of their players have also begun to step up and make their presence felt at a decisive stage of the season.
When a player leaves a club, it is mostly news that is not well-received by the fans, especially if he was a dependable figure. In most cases, such moves put the players at the receiving end of intense criticism from the club's faithful. This is exactly a situation a former Amakhosi forward found himself in when he decided to pursue greener pastures elsewhere.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions are a point behind Orlando Pirates in the race for the crown. However, they have collected just two points in their latest as many outings, with the most recent being against the Natal Rich Boys on Sunday.
The Glamour Boys battled against their traditional rivals, the Buccaneers, last weekend to share the Premier Soccer League spoils at the FNB Stadium. It was a massive result for Amakhosi, who look destined to get back to continental football once again next season.
The showdown between the Soweto rivals continues to dominate headlines days after it was played. Apart from coaches of respective teams, pundits and fans have continued to analyse the match whose outcome is believed to be able to highly influence the title race.
The league race has reached a fever pitch as the Buccaneers look to finally end Masandawana's long-standing dominance in South African football. With the Soweto giants currently leading the pack, the legendary figure believes a specific distraction could play right into the hands of his former club.
The Soweto giants have been going for quality in the last several years in their bid to dominate South African football across all brackets. They recently acquired a quality Amakhosi product to strengthen ahead of the forthcoming assignments.
As Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns size each as far as the league title is concerned, Amakhosi and Usuthu are fighting for the CAF Confederation ticket next season. At the bottom, there is another fervent fight for survival as the likes of Orbit College, Marumo Gallants, Magesi, Chippa United and TS Galaxy hope to avoid dropping to the second tier.
The Glamour Boys co-coach has lifted the lid on the tactical adjustments made to curb Buccaneers’ creative sparks during the pulsating Soweto Derby. The Tunisian tactician revealed that a specific midfield deployment was necessary to prevent the Sea Robbers from dominating the central channels at FNB Stadium.
Amakhosi have struggled in recent years to provide the South Africa national team with players. However, their recent upturn in form has sparked renewed attention on their squad, with some of their standout performers now putting their hands up for international selection.
The Masandawana coach has issued a grim warning regarding the fitness of his squad and the potential knock-on effect for the national team. Following a frustrating goalless draw against Richards Bay, the Portuguese tactician highlighted how a relentless fixture pile-up is systematically breaking down his key players.
The defending champions could have opened a one-point gap at the top of the table with a victory against the Natal Rich Boys, but they failed to take the opportunity. Interestingly, their coach claims he didn't know Masandawana had the advantage since their rivals had dropped points against the Glamour Boys in an earlier game.
Although it was a matchday overshadowed by the Soweto Derby, keen PSL fans also turned their attention to the Masandawana match. Downs had a chance to overtake the Sea Robbers but ended up dropping points, too. This means the title race remains as tight as it was before the derby as the season fast approaches its conclusion.
The 31-year-old was in inspired form last weekend, pulling off big saves that helped the Glamour Boys get a point against old rivals Bucs. It was the first time they avoided defeat against the Sea Robbers after losing the initial six league derbies consecutively.
The Premier Soccer League title has taken an interesting turn with the leading sides dropping points. Earlier, Orlando Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw by Kaizer Chiefs in a Soweto Derby showdown. Masandawana, thereafter, failed to take advantage to go to the top, but they have a game in hand that they can win and return to the summit of the PSL table.
The Glamour Boys’ goalkeeper wore his heart on his sleeve after a masterclass in the Soweto Derby, finally answering those who have questioned his capabilities. The veteran shot-stopper emerged as Amakhosi’s ultimate hero, producing a defiant display to frustrate title-chasing Orlando Pirates and secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
The Sea Robbers are taking giant steps towards winning the title as the defending champions, the Glamour Boys, fell after a long period of an unbeaten streak again. However, the Bucs' lead has been reduced, which means the title race is unlikely to be a smooth-sailing journey for the log leaders.
Masandawana stand as the only PSL side still flying the South African flag in continental competition. At the same time, they must juggle the relentless demands of domestic fixtures with their ambitions in Africa. That delicate balancing act presents a stern test for Miguel Cardoso’s men as the pressure mounts on both fronts.
GOAL gives you the details to follow the Brazilians' Premier Soccer League trip to KwaZulu-Natal to face the Natal Rich Boyz at Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Sunday. Masandawana are pushing to reclaim top spot, but that is dependent on how log leaders Orlando Pirates fare against Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby.
GOAL gives you the details to follow the Premier Soccer League clash between the Buccaneers and Amakhosi at FNB Stadium on Sunday. A lot is at stake in this encounter between the log leaders and the Glamour Boys who are third on the table.
The Glamour Boys are chasing their first win over the Sea Robbers in seven Premier Soccer League outings, having lost the initial six in a row. The first round ended 3-0 in favour of Bucs, explaining why Amakhosi are coming into the match under pressure.
The Brazilians are in desperate need of maximum points as they face the Natal Rich Boys this weekend in a must-win game. In the midweek assignment against Stellenbosch, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, it ended 1-1, explaining why the defending champions can't afford to drop more points.
The Soweto giants have been in form recently, explaining why this Sunday's outing is promising to be a thrilling encounter for both the players, the fans, and Mzansi at large. The Bafana Bafana international will be aiming at inspiring Amakhosi to their first win over Bucs following six consecutive losses in the country's top-flight football.
The last time the arch-rivals met, the Sea Robbers claimed a commanding victory, and on Sunday, both go into the game enjoying an impressive run. This is a game that will be followed keenly with the wider football fraternity because its result can have a huge effect on the title race.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC
