Former Kaizer Chiefs Junior Khanye has tipped Mamelodi Sundowns to retain their league title for the upcoming 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.
Khanye believes Mamelodi Sundowns will be able to defend their title that they have won in succession for the past seven campaigns, while putting Cape Town City in second position and Orlando Pirates in third.
The former Kaizer Chiefs winger says as much as there have been changes in the Brazilians’ technical team, they have players who know how to get the job done even if they don’t get coached.
With the Buccaneers who finished second in the last two seasons in row, Khanye says the passing of the late Stanley ‘Bra Stan’ Tshabalala will have an effect on the club while City’s new recruits such as Kamohelo Mokotjo will give the Citizens an edge to surpass the Buccaneers.
“Sundowns players know what to do without being coached,” said Khanye on iDiski TV.
“The team did not break. The team is still the same. I mean the likes of [Teboho] Mokoena, Mshishi, [Marcelo] Allende, [Lucas] Ribeiro, [Ronwen] Williams and [Grant] Kekana are still there. The spine is still there so how do you break those players. The players I have mentioned are national players so it’s still going to take some time before they are challenged.
“Orlando Pirates are going to be number three because one, they lost bra Stan a very influential person. This coach is not consistent by himself. I mean if you are going to bench Relebohile Mofokeng in a cup final and bring him on in the last 15 minutes, what the player did, did not need coaching. It was individual brilliance.
“The boy is talented and like the best players in the world he took a risk and it worked. The coach didn’t have a reason to start him on the bench. The same goes for [Tshegofatso] Mabasa his top striker. The coach makes wrong decisions where certain players are concerned and he no longer has the guidance from Bra Stan. Even with signings, Bra Stan had an influence.
“Cape Town City have signed a couple of players that I think will be good. I hope that South Africa doesn’t retire Kamohelo [Mokotjo]. I saw him at Sekhukhune [United] the guy is still good and one of the best passers and experienced. He is properly developed and he has been with Kwanele Kopo and went to Holland at an early age. He has awareness and has the ability to make a team tick,” Khanye further said.
