Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Antonio Trigo warns his former side could dominate for the next decade if Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates fail to improve.
This is the opinion of retired footballer Antonio ‘Paulito’ Trigo – who played for Sundowns in the years just after Patrice Motsepe took over.
The Brazilians have dominated domestic football with an iron fist over the last decade winning all on offer and are now moving towards their fifth league title in a row while aiming to wrestle back the Nedbank Cup.
“They can easily win all these trophies this season and nobody should really be surprised because Chiefs and Pirates are not at the same level,” Trigo tells KickOff.
“The way they work makes it look easy even if it is not. Consistency in what you believe in can never be luck because with luck it doesn’t remain consistent. When Motsepe, who we thought was not a soccer person, came to Sundowns I thought that maybe he is out to gain fame considering that he said his plan was to conquer Africa.
“He knew that he would dominate South Africa and laid the foundation for the success that the club is now enjoying. Sundowns will be in charge of the game in this country for another 20 years especially if Chiefs and Pirates keep going the way they are doing. I think for Sundowns it is no longer about bringing in the big names but rather having a structure that any player can settle into.
“Chiefs has been signing players, but you ask yourself what informs the decision to bring those players in. They are an organised club, but I think they mess it up with the way they scout for players. They are left with taking players from Sundowns like Khama Billiat and Leonardo Castro who become ordinary at Chiefs. Pirates is another space where they are going in circles.
“This then leaves Sundowns with all the space to enjoy. Chiefs and Pirates are making it look easy for Sundowns because they are not raising their socks. Sundowns is well organised right now. They don’t believe in being lucky but consistency in what they do which is why they are now amongst the top teams on the continent,” says Trigo.
Sundowns are now back at training as they also prepare for the Champions League group stages where they must negotiate their way past Pitso Mosimane’s Al Hilal along with the Sudanese pair of Al Hilal and Al Merrikh to reach the quarterfinals.