Benedict 'Tso' Vilakazi believes that his former club Mamelodi Sundowns will finish outside the top four in the Betway Premiership this season, following the sacking of Manqoba Mngqithi.
The Brazilians shocked South African football on Tuesday, announcing that the club had sacked Mngqithi along with some of his assistants in Romain Folz and Wendell Robinson and appointed Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardoso to take over the reigns as head coach at the club.
The Tshwane giants have won seven successive league titles and are currently on top of the Premiership standings with 21 points from eight matches. They are tied on points with Orlando Pirates but hold the top spot due to a superior goal difference.
However, despite holding the top spot in the league, Vilakazi believes their era of dominance in South African football is nearing its end.
"I'm still saying (Sundowns) is going back to the times of (Hristov) Stoichkov, and Johan Neeskens, they are going back there," Vilkazi said in an interview with iDiski TV on YouTube.
Before their era of dominance began under coach Pitso Mosimane in 2012, Sundowns were a mid-table team, despite investing millions of rands in quality players and hiring European coaches.
The former Bafana Bafana International also added that the Brazilians could even finish in fifth position this season.
"They are going to be around position five, six , but they will be inside the top 8, watch the space, I'm telling you, but they will not be in the top three or top top four," Vilakazi said.
IOL Sport