Overview
- Sundowns will host Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld with kick-off scheduled for 7:30pm on Wednesday, a fixture the club frames as its first home chance to set the tone this league season.
- The team sits midtable after a 3-2 win over TS Galaxy and a 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs, results that have left Sundowns 7th in the early standings and under scrutiny for consistency.
- Defender Grant Kekana acknowledged public questions about the side’s form and said Sundowns remain the benchmark in South African football while insisting the squad is not panicking over defensive issues.
- Coac h Miguel Cardoso and senior players point to new signings and youngsters such as Mofokeng, Mbokazi, Dithejane and Thapelo Maseko as ready to add quality and help the club improve its defending from set-pieces.
- The wider backdrop is that Orlando Pirates ended Sundowns’ eight-year league run last season while Sundowns won the CAF Champions League, so a strong home performance could restore momentum and send a message to rivals.