Mamelodi Sundowns may have convincingly won their DStv Premiership match against Golden Arrows, but Abafana Bes’thende coach Vusi Vilakazi believes that the Brazilians are not yet the force they were last season.
Sundowns won the match 4-0 thanks to a double by Lesiba Nku, Peter Shalulile and Grant Kekana, but Vilakazi felt they were not as invincible as last season.
“When we analysed Sundowns, Sundowns is not yet close to what they were last season. They were flying last season,” said Vilakazi.
“In the past two games that they had played, we saw that there was only one thing they tried to do. It’s to win the game irrespective of playing well or not.
“But today [Tuesday], because we didn’t come to the party. I’m not sure if it’s a true reflection of Sundowns going forward, or maybe in their next game, they might have other results. But they did very well today, very close but not in the standard of last season.”
Vilakazi is hoping the 4-0 thrashing will be a lesson for his young team going forward. Arrows were taught an early season lesson by the defending PSL champion, with Vilakazi admitting that the Durban-based outfit was terrible.
VILAKAZI ON WHAT ARROWS GOT WRONG AGAINST SUNDOWNS
“This is not one of the best results we were looking for. But today [Tuesday], I must be honest, we did not come on board,” he said.
“I think we were poor defensively and offensively. We struggled in the first half. We couldn’t even combine five passes. When you play a team like Mamelodi Sundowns, you need to be strong defensively. We conceded early goals that affected us mentally.
“In the second half, we concentrated on not conceding more goals. I think we picked a lot of things from this game going forward. But this game is water under the bridge now.”
Downs scored three goals in the first from Shalulile, Nku and Kekana. Nku sealed the victory for Sundowns, scoring his brace with only two minutes into the second half.
Meanwhile, in their three opening league matches, Arrows won one, drew one and lost one.
Story by Tshifhiwa Luvhengo
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