The Brazilians face the possibility of failing to reach the quarter-finals of Africa's premier club competition as they struggle, the latest being dropping points in Lubumbashi. However, their Portuguese coach blames their opponents for employing some dirty tactics to deny them victory.
The draw complicates Masandawana's dream of reaching the last eight and puts more pressure on head coach Miguel Cardoso. This was the third straight match where Downs dropped points after a defeat and a draw against Al Hilal in the previous two games. Should the Pretoria giants fail to advance, they will be considered architects of their own downfall, given the inconsistency in performance that they have shown.
The Soweto outfits ended the week on the back foot following disappointing results in their respective Sunday morning fixtures. The Buccaneers were forced to settle for a single point, while Amakhosi suffered a heavy defeat in a five-goal encounter that compounded their struggles.
Masandawana could register a double against their continental rivals as they are set to clash on Sunday for their fifth game in the group. The first encounter between the two ended in a 3-1 win over the Premier Soccer League giants, who recently dropped points against Al Hilal. Given that the four teams in Group C all have fairly high chances of reaching the knockout stage, it makes the match even more crucial for both sides.
Masandawana will face the DR Congo outfit in a match that has high stakes as far as their fate in the continental competition is concerned. Already, Downs have fallen down on the standings after Rhulani Mokwena's MC Alger beat Al Hilal, which means their situation is more complicated even before they kick the ball for their fifth group stage game.
Unrelenting Masandawana grinded yet another positive outcome as they try as hard as possible to close in on their title rivals. As Downs registered another victory, it was another good day for a South African star who is in good scoring form. With Pirates and Sundowns engaged in a tight battle for the title, the defending champions, Kaizer Chiefs, languish in the fifth position.
Pressure continues to mount on the Portuguese coach, whose future at Chloorkop appears increasingly uncertain. The Brazilians face the grim prospect of finishing the season empty-handed, yet they still have a chance to secure a treble if their performances improve. Even when they win, a section of the club’s supporters remains unconvinced by the manner in which the victories are posted.
Masandawana will visit the DR Congo outfit for a crucial match that could determine their fate in the continental competition. The Downs' tactician is aware of how the Sea Robbers fell at the TP Mazembe Stadium and is keen for his charges to avoid the same pitfall. Lupopo are expected to give Sundowns a tough challenge, as they are also in the hunt for points to boost the odds of reaching the next phase of the competition.
The Brazilians narrowly beat Gomora United to keep their Nedbank Cup hopes alive, providing a timely boost for Cardoso after days of mounting pressure and supporter criticism. While the victory was the highlight of the night, the 53-year-old also revealed that a suspicious photo had landed in his hands, reiterating the need for VAR in the domestic league as a way to safeguard the integrity of the game.
Although Miguel Cardoso fielded what can be described as a second-tier lineup, their overall performance was not convincing. This performance will only put the head coach under more pressure given that the Pretoria heavyweights dropped crucial points in the CAF Champions League.
After a disappointing show in the CAF Champions League, Masandawana now focus on a domestic tournament. On paper, it is easy to predict a win for the Pretoria giants, but upsets always have a way of writing themselves in such encounters. This is a cup that has eluded the Premier Soccer League giants for some time now, and Downs would be keen to end the poor run that has stretched for three seasons.
Although it is a slim win, the points are enough for Bucs to widen the gap at the top with Mamelodi Sundowns. After dropping points against Sekhukhune United, the Sea Robbers returned to winning ways, adding new impetus to their title ambition. For Arthur Zwane, the loss is a lost chance for his side to go above Kaizer Chiefs on the log.
Trouble continues to build at Chloorkop, unsettling a fanbase that once knew nothing but dominance and trophies. A club that ruled South African football and consistently pushed the limits now finds itself stuck in a worrying decline. As uncertainty grows and pressure mounts, the former Liberian international has stepped forward to point out what he believes is the real cause of the slump and to suggest a clear way forward.
In a bid to make themselves a competitive outfit in PSL and in Africa, Masandawana have always crossed the borders to bring on board players. Whereas some have come and left an impact, others have flopped despite high expectations that came with their arrival. In the off-season and mid-season transfer windows, Downs have followed the same script as they aim to collect more trophies.
Mokwena's charges registered their first win in the group to close in on Masandawana, who dropped points against Al Hilal. The Sudanese giants lead by a sizeable margin, but for Downs, MC Alger and Lupopo, the race to win the quarter-final ticket remains a tight affair.
Masandawana are playing catch-up, trying hard to close the gap between them and in-form Bucs. Meanwhile, inconsistent Amakhosi are staring at the prospect of losing the trophy, which was historically won last season.
The Buccaneers faithful have witnessed the value of having a game in hand. After the Mayfair-based side was ridiculed and tipped to drop points following their opening fixture, the Soweto outfit responded emphatically on Saturday evening, producing a commanding display to secure a convincing three points.
Bucs' intention of clinching the title from their arch-rivals becomes clearer each matchday as they keep widening the gap from their closest challengers. As the Sea Robbers' winning run continues, the defending champions' campaign gets even more complicated after dropping more points in a second straight game.
After the Africa Cup of Nations finals, where, arguably, there was unanimous national support for Bafana Bafana, fans have now turned their focus on their individual clubs. With the Premier Soccer League gaining momentum after the AFCON break, the title chase is shaping up with the 'Big Three' tightly in the race. Mamelodi Sundowns are looking to defend the title; Pirates are hoping to end Masandawana's dominance after coming so close in the past few seasons, but can Amakhosi sustain the chase?
Before the Premier Soccer League went into the break to allow players to represent their countries in the Africa Cup of Nations finals, Bucs were at the top of the PSL standings. The Sea Robbers had also registered a five-match winning streak across all competitions before that break. However, they resumed the campaign with a goalless draw against Sekhukhune United, meaning they dropped points and saw their winning run halted.
The Brazilians' situation is growing increasingly tense, with mounting pressure that could cost coach Miguel Cardoso his job. The Tshwane giants have made continental glory their top priority, but they have been far from convincing in that competition this season after reaching the final last term. Those stuttering performances have only intensified scrutiny on Cardoso as patience begins to wear thin at Chloorkop.
When the two teams meet in Rwanda, there will be two critical factors to play for: three points and the top position of the group. Both the Sudanese giants and Masandawana have five points, and a winner of the encounter will massively boost their chances of reaching the knockout phase.
Mokwena's trophy dream faced a new storm after a second loss in the continental competition. Now with just a point, MC Alger's ambition of reaching the knockout stage is uncertain after dropping points once again. According to the South African tactician, his side did not challenge their rivals, whom he says were simply the better team on the day.
The blow has come at a time when the South African's multiple-title dream was boosted by a domestic trophy won a few days ago. Although Mokwena's campaign on the domestic front looks promising, he has struggled to find good form in the continental competition. Now, his side is facing what looks like an imminent elimination from Africa's premier inter-club competition.
The West African player, who made his name at Young Africans in Tanzania before he moved north, could be on his way out after another North African club is reported to be ready to sign him. Despite making a reported big money transfer from Tanzania to Morocco, the forward has not quite settled with the Moroccan heavyweights.
The former Orlando Pirates coach has gone on to create history beyond Mzansi borders, with the 39-year-old tactician once again underlining his pedigree. Having already shown his capability during his spells at Mayfair and Chloorkop, the latest cup triumph with his current side came as no surprise to Pitso Mosimane, who had long foreseen Mokwena’s success and publicly backed him when he appointed him as his assistant at Sundowns.
Saint-Eloi Lupopo
