Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana says they are not pressing panic buttons because of the high rate at which they have been conceding goals in the new season and states how they plan to plug their leaky backline.
The Brazilians have shipped in five goals in three games so far this campaign. They conceded two against Polokwane City FC in the MTN8 quarter-finals, before allowing TS Galaxy FC to score the same number of goals against them in their 2026/27 Betway Premiership opener.
Kaizer Chiefs breached them once during last weekend’s 1-1 league draw at FNB Stadium. Now, Masandawana are preparing to host Marumo Gallants FC at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday [Kickoff 19h30], hoping to keep a clean sheet for the first time.
In the matches they have played so far, Sundowns have had Kekana and Kegan Johannes partnering in central defence in two of those games. Malibongwe Khoza was paired with Johannes against TS Galaxy. Coach Miguel Cardoso has had to do without injured centre-backs Khulumani Ndamane and Keanu Cupido.
Right-back Khuliso Mudau has started in all three outings, while Fawaaz Basadien has made the line-up twice, with Aubrey Modiba returning against Chiefs. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has started all three games and has had to retrieve the ball from the back of the net five times.
GRANT KEKANA’S ANSWER TO MAMELODI SUNDOWNS’ DEFENSIVE LEAKS
Addressing the media at Chloorkop on Monday, Kekana pointed to improving defending set pieces as the best way to tighten up and avoid being porous.
“Obviously, we don’t like conceding as defenders, and set pieces should be something we enjoy defending. We have just been unfortunate this season, Kekana told the media.
“Maybe it’s a lapse in concentration here and there, but it’s something that we are still working on now. We obviously want to get better.
“But I don’t think it’s something that’s making us panic in any way. It’s just about us improving how we deal with set pieces.”
RELATED STORY: Grant Kekana: ‘We don’t want negativity around us’
