Money does not always buy success — as Sundowns’ billionaire president, Patrice Motsepe, is discovering to his considerable cost. The troubled Brazilians have now turned to former France national coach Henri Michel to heal the club’s ongoing malaise.
With an out-of-depth Trott Moloto’s days at the helm of the Sundowns coaching staff numbered — Motsepe has said as much — Michel is in the country for discussions that could lead to him taking over as the Chloorkop club’s manager.
But Michel’s presence as an onlooker at Sundowns’ debacle defeat against Bay United at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Sunday is no guarantee he will be linking up with the Brazilians.
Motsepe had previously hinted that a prominent Dutch coach was on the way to Sundowns and immediate, if wild, speculation turned towards former playing greats Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit as the likely contenders to be lured here by the Sundowns president’s not inconsiderable money-bags.
It always seemed unlikely that Rijkaard, who at the start of the season left Barcelona after guiding the club to both the Uefa Champions League title and Spanish La Liga honours, would descend to the level of the Absa Premiership — not for any money.
Gullit, a legend for The Netherlands during his playing career, has hardly matched his achievements on the field with those on the bench. But with Sundowns obsessed by big names and ready to pay for them, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the former Chelsea manager might be designated as the latest Sundowns saviour.
Now, however, Michel has emerged on the scene. And there is also a Spanish coach who has apparently been approached by Sundowns as well. So it is anyone’s guess as to who will replace Moloto — and whether the present incumbent will remain with the club in some capacity or other.
Ironically and somewhat amazingly, the current Sundowns technical staff is in the dark about what is going on.
Stranger and stranger, it would seem, for a club that has annexed the Premier Soccer League title a record five times — but has often lost its way in the past couple of years. — Sapa