Promising Downs' season turning into pie in the sky

MAYBE Mamelodi Sundowns should do themselves a huge favour and change their slogan.

Converting "the sky is the limit" to "the pie in the sky" would be an appropriate change because that is what their title aspirations have been relegated to of late. In a PSL campaign dubbed by many as the championship nobody wants to win - such has been the inconsistency of the chasers - Sundowns are an exception.

The Chloorkop crowd have been consistent in undermining their own challenge since their last triumph, in 2008, and have perfected the art of being pretenders to the throne. How many times have you seen Sundowns sprint out of the starting blocks to finish the first round perched on pole position, only for their paraffin speed to fizzle out come the second round, where they end the season as also-rans? Just when you think they have positioned themselves perfectly to steamroller to the finish line, they implode. More often than not, the implosion is self-inflicted.

If it's not the dressing room shrinking to telephone booth size because of the super-sized egos of the galaxy of stars, it is some volatile coach with the temper of an enraged Spanish bull on steroids - read Henri Michel or Hristo Stoichkov, it's your choice, really.

If it's not Katlego Mphela getting gatvol and going AWOL because of a never materialising overseas move, it is fans forcing the coach to flee amid death threats, as did Antonio Lopez Habas last year. This season, they've allowed a seven-point lead to slip and have surrendered top spot to Orlando Pirates. Thankfully, Johan Neeskens has managed the stars so well there have been no rumblings of discontent and the accompanying chaos and circus that have become an annual affair at Chloorkop in seasons past.

However, Neeskens can be faulted in his choice of last line of defence. When first-choice Wayne Sandilands is unavailable, Calvin Marlin comes in. But Dennis Onyango is one of the best goalkeepers in the league, yet finds himself third in the pecking order.

No disrespect to Marlin, but his form has been horrendous. Onyango knows how to win the league, as he did with cross-town neighbours SuperSport United.

Maybe Neeskens is unaware of this. But such is the meticulous way in which he operates that one doubts he is oblivious to Onyango's capabilities.

As their goal difference suggests, Sundowns have no problems scoring. Not shutting the door at the back is at the root of their problems and might be again against Santos today. Unless Neeskens fixes this, all that will glitter at Chloorkop are the gold rings - two per finger - on Alex Shakoane's fingers.