Mhlongo tips Mamelodi Sundowns to edge Kaizer Chiefs despite warning of ‘lost hunger

Benson Mhlongo says Mamelodi Sundowns will beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 in tonight‟s Betway Premiership match, even though he believes the Brazilians are a club lacking hunger.

Sundowns travel to FNB Stadium still smarting from their MTN8 semi-final exit after a 4-1 penalty shoot-out defeat to Orlando Pirates, to face a Chiefs side on a perfect three-match winning run in the championship.

It is a match that could have far-reaching repercussions in the 2025/26 league title race, with Sundowns aware that maximum points will take them above Amakhosi, who are eager to return to the top of the local game.

Mhlongo‟s confidence that the Brazilians will reign supreme stems from his view that his former club are a much stronger outfit than a Chiefs side with a suspect rearguard.

“Chiefs are not solid at the back,” he said of a team that is, ironically, yet to concede a goal this campaign. “I am convinced.”

While he believes Sundowns have no equals in the PSL, Mhlongo has spotted some chinks in the multiple champions‟ armour that concern him.

“Pound for pound, Sundowns have the best squad, but I don‟t think they have that hunger anymore. I don‟t think when they make mistakes they correct them.

“There are small details that suggest they are taking things for granted. It‟s like they have forgotten to do analysis the way they used to. I think they say, „we‟ve been to the World Cup and so we will win automatically‟.

“They have to change that attitude. They have to go back to what made them tick and that‟s hard work – on and off the field.”

Mhlongo believes Sundowns‟ quality is such that they can only be beaten when they stop making an effort, which he says is currently the case.

“Ronwen (Williams) is relaxed. (Teboho) Mokoena is relaxed, we saw that against Pirates. The one player who exposed the situation at Sundowns is that striker (Lebo) Mothiba, who came on and scored the penalty. “You look at his movement and energy and you can see he is still hungry even though he comes from overseas. He wants to win things, he wants to show us who he is.

His energy is not the same as the others.

“He exposed that his teammates are relaxed. He still wants to win but the others don‟t seem keen.”

The former Pirates captain also points the finger of blame at coach Miguel Cardoso: “There are problems at Sundowns.

“The players‟ body language says something is wrong. Maybe the coach is harsh in the dressing room or they don‟t understand him. European coaches are sometimes at a disadvantage because of their way of doing things.

“They don‟t help players to improve. Their way is, „look after yourself, mine is just to teach you tactics‟. Maybe Cardoso is the kind of coach who says „you are professionals, you must know

what to do‟. But South African players are different.

“For us to perform you must sit on our necks. Without pressure we relax, we don‟t give 100%.” Mhlongo is among those who believe Cardoso has not brought improvement to Sundowns.

“He found Rulani‟s (Mokwena‟s) team, that‟s Rulani‟s team he is using. There‟s no improvement, actually they went down more than before because their final entries are not as many as in the past.”

His misgivings aside, he is confident Sundowns will beat a Chiefs side he believes should not be playing their home matches at FNB Stadium.

“The pitch is heavy and they don‟t have seasoned players who know how to handle that. Sundowns are going to beat them, 2-0.