Former Baroka FC coach Kgoloko Thobejane seems to have diagnosed the illness that is causing Kaizer of Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to find it hard to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns.
Having won the league for a record-extending ninth consecutive season last term, Sundowns are again tipped to ascend the Betway Premiership podium come May 2026.
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Thobejane, whose status in local football shifted a gear followin his immortalised phrase 'Football can kill you a real death', does not see the status quo changing with the new season kicking off this weekend. .
"Ah, Chiefs and Pirates cannot compete with Sundowns, at Sundowns they have a style of play," said Thobejane in candid conversation with KickOff.com.
"But do Pirates have a style of play? Do Chiefs have a style of play?
"When Pirates are playing Sekhukhune United, they are playing this way, and when they are playing another club, they are playing that way.
"So, Sundowns, you play against them using the low block, or you use counter-attack... they don't mind. That's football, that's how we compete. Once you change your style of play according to your opponents, then you change who you are.
"You don't have identity.
"In fact, all these 15 other clubs in the PSL are doing the same thing. They have no identity.
"Yes, Pirates, they have bought good players, but which style must these new players adapt to? Pirates, in most games, they are helped by the fact that they have players that can score goals.
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"Pirates, ga e kwa go fisha ya tshentsha. Pressure challenges you to show us who you really are.
"But Sundowns, at the recent Club World Cup, they didn't care whether you are a big club or what, they just stuck to their normal game," shared Thobejane.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
