WeeklySA_AdminTHRILLER: Downs look to their dependable talisman to defang Dikwena tsa Metsi…
By Masoja Cele
In a game they are certain to win, Betway Premiership reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns tackle Magesi FC in a league fixture on Sunday at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. The Atteridgeville kick-off is at 15:00.
If the Brazilians win against Dikwena tsa Metsi they will then move to the top of the table above current leaders Sekhukhune United and second-placed Kaizer Chiefs, depending on other results.
Downs are sitting third on the log standings with 11 points while Babina Noko and AmaKhosi are both on 13 points. Chiefs and Magesi face each other at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night.
For the defending champions to achieve the feat they should dig deep from their football reservoir. At present Magesi are aiming to move up from their third- from -the-bottom position on the log. Soccer being what it is, the Tshwane giants can’t take anything for granted.
Sundowns haven’t had a perfect start to the current league campaign. Their first league fixture was a drawn fixture against the unstable Chippa United.
There was also a discomfort within the Masandawana team when they lost to Orlando Pirates in the MTN 8 semi-finals. Then a section of their supporters called for the dismissal of head coach Miguel Cardoso.
The dissatisfaction was compounded by two want-away players: midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa and defender Khuliso Mudau. The right back has since resolved his impasse with the club and has already started training with the team. Ribeiro Costa is in the process of negotiating with Spanish Segunda (second division) side Cultural y Deportivo Leonesa (CYD Leonesa).
With Ribeiro having permanently left the Brazilians the team will need more help from the in-form Namibian international Peter Shalulile.
The lanky target man last scored the only goal of the against Stellenbosch before the international break. That important goal helped Shalulile to overtake former Chiefs striker Siyabonga Nomvethe as the Premier Soccer League all-time top goal scorer.
Today Shalulile is the Premier Soccer League all-time top goals scorer with 130 goals. Nomvethe scored 129 goals for teams like African Wanderers, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows.
In Namibia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sao Tome Principe, Shalulile netted a hattrick. Masandawana manager Cardoso will hope that the trusted Shalulile will combine well with his striking partner Arthur Sales.
In the middle of the park Downs are spoilt for choice boasting the likes of the hard-man Teboho ‘’Tebza’’ Mokoena, the enterprising Mothusi Aubaas and Marcelo Allende.
Nevertheless, the Tshwane giants can’t afford to underestimate the strength of Dikwena tsa Meetsi. In their first season in the Betway Premiership Magesi caused an upset beating a full-strength Sundowns team 2-1 during the Carling Black Label final during the 2024 season.
Though the Black Crocodiles have not started the season well they could be still pose a big threat to the enemy. So called small teams have the tendency of giving their all when faced with big clubs.
