Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Roger Feutmba has weighed in on the changing landscape of the Betway Premiership, detailing why his former club faces an uphill battle to assert their usual total control over the league.
Masandawana had their eight-year relentless supremacy of the domestic league stopped by Orlando Pirates last season. The Buccaneers rose to clinch the Betway Premiership title for the first time in 14 years as Sundowns finished the season as league runners-up and atoned for their domestic faults by winning the CAF Champions League.
In recent seasons, Masandawana were unmatched in the league, often sealing the title with games to spare while smashing their own records. But Pirates halted the eight-season reign in coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s maiden season with the Soweto giants.
After two PSL games in the new campaign, Sundowns edged TS Galaxy FC 3-2 and drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium last weekend. They also sneaked into MTN8 semi-finals following a narrow 3-2 win over Polokwane City FC.
Rivals Pirates are on course to defend their league title after taking an early lead in the race by beating Milford FC 2-0, drawing 1-1 with AmaZulu FC before sealing a 3-0 victory over Chippa United.
The Buccaneers have the same number of points as second-placed Chiefs, who opened their campaign by beating newboys Kruger United 3-1, before dismissing Sekhukhune United 2-0 and then sharing the spoils with Sundowns.
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It is a season Sundowns have not been too active in the transfer market and have signed Siyanda Ndlovu and Antonio van Wyk, while Katlego ‘Tsiki’ Ntsabeleng completed a permanent transfer from FC Dallas after spending last season on loan at Chloorkop.
“All I can say is that most of the time, if teams are dominating, it means others are struggling to give them that competition. Some teams do things differently from other teams,” Feutmba told FARPost.
“Last season was a different story because Pirates came to the party. Now they have started the season well, and Pirates can lose to any team but will always come back, from the way I see it.
“The level we have seen is good for football, and I’m happy with what I saw. If you win all the time, it looks like there is no competition. Last season we saw the competition is there, so it won’t be easy for Sundowns. It won’t be different from last season.
“But Sundowns have quality players, and they are organised and will compete. All they need to do is just manage what they have to gain an advantage. But it’s going to be tough for Sundowns.”
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While the league race is yet to take shape, with most teams still fancying their chances of finishing up the table, Feutmba is not ruling out stunners in the campaign.
“Of course there could be surprises. Whatever we predict now may not always be correct, but big teams can be surprised. Sekhukhune United can create a surprise. Same as TS Galaxy, Marumo Gallants; even they don’t have the same quality as Sundowns, Pirates and Chiefs,” added the 1990 FIFA World Cup player with Cameroon.
Feutmba is also not ruling out Chiefs from waging a serious fight for the Betway Premiership title after the Soweto giants finished third last season. Amakhosi are bidding for a first league title since being crowned the 2014/15 champions.
“Of course Chiefs have to shake things up. We can’t talk South African football without mentioning Chiefs in terms of match attendance, organisation or even the type of football,” Feutmba went on.
“They just have to work to be where they were before, and they are capable of doing that if you look at what they did last season. They are a big team and need to be respected, especially for their contribution to SA football.”
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