Sekhukhune United's bright start fades as winless run raises pressure

After relishing an unbeaten start to their Betway Premiership campaign and climbing to the top of the log standings, it seems the wheels are slowly coming off for Sekhukhune United.

Sekhukhune drew 1-1 with Marumo Gallants over the past weekend as they extended their winless streak to five games in the league — a stark opposite to their bright start in which they won four games and drew one in their first five matches.

The turnaround in fortunes has put their title challenge in serious jeopardy, as teams above them — including serial champions Mamelodi Sundowns and three-time consecutive league runners-up Orlando Pirates — are already setting the pace in the title race.

Babina Noko’s slump must be frustrating for coach Eric Tinkler, who had claimed in the early stages of the season that he believed he had enough depth at his disposal, with players who fully understood his demands and were capable of competing with any team in the league, to challenege for silverware.

The opposite, however, has proven true for now. While veteran striker Bradley Grobler has been aging like fine wine — scoring six league goals this season in just 11 matches — some of his teammates have regressed as the season progresses, with the exceptions of Keletso Makgalwa.

The 28-year-old recently earned his maiden Bafana Bafana call-up for their friendly against Zambia, highlighting the progress he has made over the last few months. He may not have made his debut and is unlikely to make the Africa Cup of Nations squad, but Hugo Broos clearly has him on his radar.

The injury to captain Linda Mntambo hasn’t helped the team’s cause either. Instead, it has paralysed them in terms of depth and leadership, both on and off the pitch.

Tinkler has no time to moan or sulk. Instead, they must use the upcoming AFCON in December to their advantage by finding solutions to their dip in form.

Perhaps the arrival of Andre Arendse as part of the backroom staff could also help steer things around. Arendse is a tactically astute coach, having led teams such as SuperSport United in the past.

Arendse’s arrival should also bolster the club’s goalkeeping department, which looks like a shadow of its former self. Renaldo Learner has struggled to keep clean sheets despite his impressive exploits between the sticks last season.

However, Arendse’s arrival could put Tinkler under immense pressure. He may be the man the club is targeting to replace Tinkler should the wheels truly come off — which might explain why he was brought in early. But that remains to be seen.

Sekhukhune really need to turn their fortunes around, as their best form brings strong competition to the league and could enable another push for a top-four finish, especially after Stellenbosch’s dip in form since the start of the season.