iDiski TV analyst junior Khanye has made a claim that Mamelodi Sundowns‘ style of play has changed under Miguel Cardoso especially this season.
Khanye’s sentiments come after the side’s 1-0 win over Golden Arrows in the quarter-final of the Carling Knockout Cup at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.
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Khanye is of the opinion that the side is gradually moving from playing and building in departments from the back to a just going wide and hoping for luck in the final third.
The former Kaizer Chiefs winger believes players have been traditionally signed based on the philosophy of the club but now players are developing their own way of doing things and it’s frustrating their coach.
He added that though they are winning now, there is lack of creativity, and it will catch up with them later because they are becoming predictable.
“It hasn’t changed too much but it has changed,” said Khanye on iDiski TV.
“The reason it hasn’t changed too much is because you have signed players based on the style of play of former coaches like Rulani [Mokwena]. And it’s the players who are changing it, but you can tell the coach doesn’t want that. With him you see they go wide irrespective how many people are there, just put the ball in the box and he’ll have issues with the strikers if they are not in the box.
“The style of play has changed, they are scoring from crosses and headers to them they actually go wide, once the ball is in the box they get half of a chance, even from corner kicks. And I think that’s something the coach believes in and it’s frustrating because you have signed players based on technical superiority.
“Majority of the players at Sundowns come from development, I always say you can’t be able to pass the ball around when you haven’t been developed properly. So, it’s the players who are changing the style but the coach I don’t think he believes in that. If you check him, he gets frustrated especially if the ball is moving quick. Right now, Sundowns doesn’t mind to play two touches at the back and go forward, the ball jumps the centre they don’t mind.
“And it’s a big problem because they’ve signed players based on the style of play and philosophy which suited them because they played in departments. Majority of the players who played under Pitso [Mosimane] and Rulani were signed based on how the club plays, and now I think the coach doesn’t love for them to be patient.
“I mean they break then go on pause they break in passes until they score. What he wants is break, go wide try and pinpoint and find [Iqraam] Rayners or the last pole and pounce on the second ball for a goal. The effects might not be seen now because he won the [CAF] Champions League and the MTN8. But the truth is they are becoming predictable. He played the same way even against Durban City that’s how [Thabang] Matuludi scored his brace.”