Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler has made a bold statement about Mamelodi Sundowns amid their recent instability.
There have been many rumours about a possible coaching change at Chloorkop, with Miguel Cardoso linked to an exit and Pitso Mosimane linked with a return.
The majority of the Yellow Nation has been unhappy with the team’s performances this season, including exits from the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout.
Cardoso and the club’s Sporting Director Flemming Berg were reportedly escorted out through the back door of the stadium on Friday after the draw against Al Hilal to avoid angry fans.
Tinkler says the noise being made around Sundowns is “created for the wrong reasons”. He believes they remain strong, as they have been in past seasons.
He added that the Tshwane giants will be at the top of the table again, as strong contenders for the league title this season.
“Listen, I played them the other day with probably their third choice team. And [they] still won,” said Tinkler.
“I actually think there’s a lot of negativity that’s going around them. That is being created for wrong reasons.
“Because truth be told Sundowns won the league last year with 72 points. So that’s an average of 12 points every five games. Are they on track? Yes.
“They have exactly that amount. So have Sundowns got worse? I [would] understand if people say to me, ‘Sundowns are not achieving the 12 points per five games. They’re now eight’.
“Then I could sit here and say, yeah, there’s a problem at Sundowns. But the fact of the matter is they’ve got 12 from five.
“So they’re still on target to 72 points come the end of the season, which no other team has even come close to.
“The league used to be 160 points. Sundowns raised the bar to 72. We’re all trying to play catch up.
“We’re all trying to play catch up to that number. So I don’t read into that much. Because ultimately, I know the quality that they possess, they’re going to be difficult.
“And they’ll still be up there to win the league. Because the points are telling me that. Not because of what’s happening behind the scenes and blah, blah, blah.”
Tinkler’s Sekhukhune take on Sundowns on Tuesday, 27 January at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
