Downs deserved to win the title

Ithink Sundowns’ Absa Premiership title win is deserved, defending a title is always more difficult, because being champions, everyone who comes up against you is playing at their maximum.

Add to this the fact that they had such a heavy schedule on the continent and the fact that they managed to balance the two, the Premiership and the Champions League, is remarkable.

They also lost Percy Tau and Khama Billiat. Even though Billiat was not at his best before he left, he is a plus for any team.

If you look at all these factors, I think this is possibly the best league in Sundowns’ history.

They have brought in Gaston Sirino and Lebo Maboe; Themba Zwane has come to the party, and the management deserves credit.

I am not one to look at colour in relation to ability, but the fact that Pitso Mosimane is a black coach and has managed to do what he has at Sundowns, with the challenges he has faced is amazing.

If you look at South African football, too often black coaches are not trusted and his success speaks volumes.

Him winning four league titles

in six seasons is brilliant.

Yes, Gordon Igesund won four league titles and Gavin Hunt has, too, but I think with the pressure on Pitso to do it four times is massive.

If you look at the game against Ajax in 2015 at the Lucas Moripe stadium, Pitso was probably one game away from losing his job.

Pitso has the opportunity to do what Arsene Wenger did at Arsenal, what Alex Ferguson did at Man United.

We have definitely seen the resurgence of Orlando Pirates in the last couple of seasons.

The rebuilding phase started last season with Micho Sredojevic. He decided to replace a few players who were not working.

When Luvuyo Memela and Thabo Qalinge got injured, Vincent Pule, Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga were able to step in.

I think this is a road Pirates have planned, and I don’t think fans can be disappointed. They improved their points haul from last season.

If there is a part of their game that can see them get more than 60 points it will be if they can manage the game better when they take the lead.

It happened in the recent match with Cape Town City, when they got that vital equaliser, and it happened on numerous other occasions.

I do think Pirates will just get better, it will be interesting to see how they work in the transfer market, they don’t need to change too much.

If Kaizer Chiefs win the Nedbank Cup, their season will be saved.

Ernst Middendorp has done a nice job.

Having said that, when I talk about missing out on the top eight, I become emotional, it is unacceptable for Chiefs to fall out of the top eight.

A Celtic side, where their players are not getting paid, and which has so many issues, finished in the top eight. Their boys go out and fight.

Chiefs’ players need to take a look at themselves, to do some introspection, yes you have your difficult seasons, and Chiefs have changed coach twice, but they should have cemented a top-eight spot.

A cup win will be something they can build on.