Exclusive: “We’re Not Far Off Europe” – Ex-Sundowns Star Urges Club to Sharpen in Front of Goal

Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Wayne Arendse believes that the Mamelodi Sundowns are not too far off in terms of the standards of football that teams in Europe possess, despite having been knocked out in the group stages of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Where are the loopholes?

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za, Arendse, highlighted that Mamelodi Sundowns, despite having proven themselves to be one of the top teams in Africa, still lack conversion in front of goal.

Arendse believes that the side's failure to convert chances throughout their FIFA Club World Cup campaign, a campaign in which they lost one match, won one match and drew one match, was the main reason behind them failing to progress to the top 16.

"It's a little bit disappointing because as a winner, you don't want to accept not getting out of the group stages because when I see Sundowns' performances, I really think that there was a chance of them getting out of the groups," Arendse told SportsBoom.co.za.

"There was definitely a chance for them to go to the last 16, but it just shows, if you're not clinical in front of goal, you don't stand a chance against the world's biggest clubs. You can see that we're not really that far from Europe in terms of the Borussia Dortmund game (4-3 win for Dortmund). The chances that they got, they were clinical, they finished them."

"We got chances, but we didn't finish the chances. But then later on in the game, we managed to score two. I'm just saying we need to be more clinical and know where to bury the chances, and also minimise the mistakes. I think that's the only difference between us and Europe. They're more clinical and they pay attention to the small details. Other than that, I'm happy for the boys. They did well. It just shows that we're there and hopefully they push on from here."

A finishing coach could be the answer?

Having returned home to South Africa, Arendse reckons that getting a striker's coach or a finishing coach to work with the forwards could be a decision that would help Mamelodi Sundowns close the gap between themselves and the European clubs.

Conversion and the ability to score goals remain a main issue in South African football, not only for Sundowns, and Arendse suggests that the players may improve with the help of specialist coaches.

"Maybe it's time we have attacking coaches, strikers' coaches just to sharpen up a bit because they are scoring goals, but like I said, those half chances that you want, without even thinking that you're going to put it in the back of the net," said Arendse.  

"Because the talk that has been going on in South Africa has been regarding strikers. When you go to Europe, you find attacking coaches forming part of the backroom staff, and a prime example is Benni McCarthy, who was at Manchester United as a striker's coach or a finishing coach. So, maybe we should look at that, but I believe we are not too far in terms of Mamelodi Sundowns."

Are foreign coaches suited for SA football?

Portuguese-born coach Miguel Cardoso led Sundowns in the FIFA Club World Cup, and despite helping the team to their first win in the competition when they beat Ulsan 1-0 in the tournament opener, some South African fans and pundits believe he is yet to understand the Sundowns' way of playing.

However, Arendse believes a foreign coach such as Cardoso could leave a mark on South African football.

"If the coaches come in from out of the country and he's coming to do the business, we as South Africans can learn. I have no issue with that because the club has identified whoever is capable of leading the team, but at the same time, clubs need to have local coaches around the foreign coach to learn from them."

"No matter who you are as a coach, you can learn from anybody. I have no issue with if a foreigner comes in but at the same time, the people from your academies and from your country should be around so that they can absorb the information, also learn and take it to the rest of the club, to the development and that's how the players grow, the coaches grow."