There were ugly scenes after Sundowns were held to a 2-2 home draw by Sudanese side Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League on Friday, with coach Miguel Cardoso and Sporting Director Flemming Berg forced to leave the stadium via the ‘back door’.
This came after Berg was doused with liquid by angry fans, some of whom want the pair removed from the club.
It comes amid unverified reports that Sundowns are in talks with former coach Pitso Mosimane about a return, despite the acrimony surrounding his exit for Al Ahly in 2020 and the legal battle between the two parties that followed.
Mosimane had his own taste of Sundowns fans’ unhappiness in 2015, when he needed a police escort from the stadium following a 2-1 loss to Lamontville Golden Arrows. He stuck it out, however, and a year later won the CAF Champions League. The rest is history.
But there is clearly trouble brewing at Sundowns unless results improve, though the great irony is that the club still leads both the Betway Premiership table and their CAF Champions League group.
They are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions since a 1-0 loss to former coach Manqoba Mngqithi’s Golden Arrows in September, but that run includes five draws and defeat to Marumo Gallants on penalties in the Carling Knockout.
Three of the last four matches have ended in stalemate, including a 1-1 draw with lowly Siwelele in the domestic league and the draw with Al Hilal.
The good news for Sundowns is that they are involved in midweek league action on Tuesday, away to Sekhukhune United, a side they have dominated in the past.
The teams have met on nine previous occasions, with Sundowns winning eight and drawing one. That lone blemish was a 1-1 stalemate in 2022.
While Sundowns have been dominant at home in the league this season, taking 19 points from a possible 21, they have won just two of their seven away games (D4 L1).
Sekhukhune have lost just once at home (W3 D4), a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch last week.
CHIEFS COULD GO TOP
The only other midweek clash sees Kaizer Chiefs head to struggling Marumo Gallants on Wednesday.
If Sundowns lose to Sekhukhune, Chiefs will go top of the Betway Premiership with a win in Bloemfontein.
Gallants have won only three of their 15 league matches this season (D6 L6) and have struggled for goals, scoring just 12. However, along with Sundowns and Polokwane City, they are one of only three teams in the division yet to lose at home this season, with two wins and four draws from six games.
Conversely, Chiefs are the only side in the division yet to lose away (W3 D2), though they have played just five road games, the fewest in the league by at least two. To put that in perspective, Gallants have already played nine away matches.
Chiefs have also yet to concede a goal on their travels, scoring four in the process.
They are unbeaten in their last nine domestic matches (W3 D6) since a 3-1 home loss to Sekhukhune in mid-September.