Stability is key to Downs' success

06 May 2016 - 09:42 By ANDILE NDLOVU

It stands to reason that a team that scores more goals than any other (53) and concedes the least (20) should top the standings - and Mamelodi Sundowns have done just that. Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane deserves all the champagne he desires for the next month. The Brazilians have done it in style - winning a second PSL title in three seasons, and have scored more and let in fewer goals than in their 2013-2014 truimph.In Spain, Germany and Italy; Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus, respectively, enjoy the best goal difference - in England's Premier League only Tottenham Hotspur have a better record than champions Leicester City.Sundowns have been a joy to watch - especially in the opening half of this season, and should they win their final two fixtures, they will record the highest points haul (71) since before the PSL was reduced to 16 teams (they hold the record of 75 points achieved in the 1999-2000 season, when there were still 18 teams in the league).Among the keys to Mosimane's success this season has been stability - he has been able to count on most of the players who won the league two years ago.On top of Thabo Nthethe, Tebogo Langerman, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Hlompho Kekana and, to an extent, Anthony Laffor, Leonardo Castro was brought in at the beginning of the season and has snagged 10 league goals for Pitso. Khama Billiat complemented the Colombian brilliantly with his 10 goals too. The pair are the club's joint top-scorers.Youngun Keagan Dolly, who signed from Ajax Cape Town two years ago, and forms part of the irresistable and rightly much-praised "CBD" triumvirate. also contributed goals and assists. It's what champions do if they hope to stay on top - always look to be better than the last, by identifying the key ingredients. It's evidenced in how Wayne Arendse slotted into the giant gap left by Alje Schut, and the versatile Mzikayise Mashaba has played wherever he's been asked to. With Bongani Zungu's long-term injury, Tiyani Mabunda and Bangaly Soumahoro have stepped in.Goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, who Sundowns fans will always remember for his penalty-saving heroics in December's Telkom Knockout final against Kaizer Chiefs, also came into his own this season - moving ahead of Kennedy Mweene.Success follows once all the right pieces are in place.However, while recruitment has been key to Sundowns' success, it is keeping these ingredients together which will help them dominate the PSL for years to come - Zungu is already off to Vitoria de Guimaraes in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, while there's incessant speculation about the futures of Billiat and Dolly, with rumours of European clubs monitoring them.Mosimane will know he cannot stand in the way of any player's big-money move, but he will hope for as little disruption as possible to his bunch of winners.What the rest of the public will hope for, however, is for Bidvest Wits, Platinum Stars, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to also buy smartly and give us an even more enthralling 2016-2017 season.For now, though, congratulations to Pitso "Jingles" Mosimane and the Brazilians!..

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