Mamelodi Sundowns is still a work in progress under new head coach Miguel Cardoso but there's a recurring issue that has continued from Manqoba Mngqithi and legend Hlompho Kekana has suggested a solution.
Going back from the Carling Knockout final defeat against Magesi and a draw against Maniema Union under former coach Mngqithi, Sundowns seemed to have two contrasting halves, where they came out guns blazing in the first stanza and controlled the game but end up chasing the game in the second stanza.
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Under Cardoso, even though it's understandable that it only his first two games, The Brazilians had control in the first stanza against Raja Casablanca and they were under a lot of pressure in the second period from the interval, where Raja had a couple of disallowed goals.
The same thing continued against Stellenbosch, where Masandawana created plenty of clear chances in the first-half but only took a 1-0 lead to the break and in the second stanza, Stellies made Cardoso's charges to backpedal and defend more, something that is not associated with how Sundowns handle a lead.
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Masandawana legend Kekana has opened up on what makes the team not to control matches from start to finish, as it expected.
"A big team always plays with the ball, whether defending or attacking, so as a big team once you lose that control of possession, you're bound to defend a lot," Kekana said on The Pitchside Podcast.
"What causes that is the midfielders, they must always be on the ball. That's why around the world when you see a team that is dominating in every department is because their midfielders clock so many distances and not only on running but always on the ball. It gives the team control.
"It's not a coaching issue, it's just to remind the individuals to know that (so and so), 'As a team we rely on you to have the ball'. A lot of teams that lose a match they lose it there in the engine room and it is because midfielders are playing in patches," Kekana added.
Sundowns are back in the Betway Premiership action on Tuesday afternoon when they visit AmaZulu at King Zwelithini Stadium.