GAME DAY | Sekhukhune United v Mamelodi Sundowns: Eric Tinkler issues rallying cry to halt slump
Betway Premiership
Sekhukhune United are looking to find their spark again, but it doesn't get much tougher than the league leaders. Eric Tinkler has called for a massive shift from his men tonight as they host Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
As Sekhukhune United prepare for a pivotal encounter against the Betway Premiership leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Eric Tinkler is calling on his players to step up their game.
The match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday at 7.30pm could prove to be a decisive moment in Sekhukhune’s season. The Limpopo side have struggled to find form since the turn of the year, failing to register a win and grappling with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Stellenbosch last week, followed by a frustrating 0-0 stalemate against title challengers Orlando Pirates just four days later.
Sekhukhune v Mamelodi Sundowns head to head.
Image: Gemini
This series of underwhelming performances have seen Sekhukhune drop to fifth place in the league standings, now three points adrift of the summit after amassing only six points from their last five outings.
At one stage, Sekhukhune appeared to be strong contenders for the title, but a six-match winless streak from September to November derailed their early-season momentum.
In contrast, Sundowns kicked off 2026 on a positive note with a 2-0 victory over Orbit College on 19 January, reclaiming their top spot in the table as they seek to consolidate their lead after the Pirates slipped last weekend.
Under the direction of Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns are eager to solidify their status and build momentum during the second half of the season, following a subpar performance in the concluding five months of 2025.
Sekhukhune face a formidable challenge, but Tinkler’s rallying cry may provide the much-needed inspiration for his players to rise to the occasion against Sundowns.
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