Johan Neeskens: at last the brush-off for a doomed Dutch master

Now in traditional orange: the axed Johan Neeskens

WHEN “Joel the goal” Mogorosi was awarded the winner that wasn’t at themagnificent Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns fans might rightly have expected a rapid response from their expensively-assembled squad, if only to save the career of their struggling head coach Johan Neeskens.

Instead, the bright orange Dutchman stood impotent and impatient as his time ran out against a far more reasonably priced Bloemfontein Celtic outfit, who never looked like losing their grip on the Telkom KO Cup.

Sure the goal wasn't over the line, but there was little question which team deserved victory. Neeskens can rant about mothers-in-law and off-form players all he wants, he proved again on Saturday he had long since "lost the dressing room" as the pundits like to say. He simply failed to get a response out of his billionaires, with the best and highest-paid of them, Elias Pelembe, languishing in the shadows.

A statement on the club's website from Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe said: “Johan Neeskens is a good coach whose experience and track record speaks for itself. He sacrificed and worked hard for the success of the Club. Johan will always have a special place at Mamelodi Sundowns and I wish him the very best with his future and career.”

“I am excited to welcome Pitso Mosimane to Mamelodi Sundowns and am confident that he will contribute to the success and growth of the Club. Pitso’s first major task is to ensure that we win games and finish in a respectable position in the Premier Soccer League, taking into account the very high standards we set for ourselves. Our current position on the log is extremely embarrassing and we have to restore the dignity and pride of Sundowns and our supporters.”

Our last public sighting of the Dutch master Neeskens, a 61-year-old World Cup finalist who won 49 caps and scored 17 goals for the Netherlands, was a distinctly shabby post-match interview with SuperSport’s bubbly Romy Titus.

When she asked him how disappointed his men were at losing to the sweating Siwelele, whose fans dominated a crowd of close to 33,000, he offered a snide sneer: “What do you think, you think they are not unhappy, they are not upset? I must see a replay of that goal. I don’t think it was over the line.”

It wasn’t. But given another below-par performance from the club ironically known as South Africa’s Brazilians, there was still justice of sorts on show.

It was a classic closing performance from a man who, apart from a brief spell in charge of NEC Nijmegen at the turn of the century, was rarely given the reigns as he played understudy to superior footballing brains like Guus Hiddink and Frank Rijkaard with Holland, Australia, Barcelona and even Turkey’s Galatasary.

He was introduced as the brain from Barca when Patrice Motsepe added him to the fabulously expensive Johan Cruyff academy at Chloorkop last year. It was a mistake Msandawana were to regret. Heavily. Some get away with dodgy CVs when they come to South Africa, but the history of Neeskens, littered with the words "assistant manager" told a telling truth.

Neeskens promised to resign if he ended his second season as he endured the first, without trophies. He didn’t of course. In the end Sundowns President Motsepe had to fire the Dutchman, a couple of months after fans had thrown bottles and vuvuzelas at him following another inexplicably poor performance at Dobsonville. We are told the club reached an "amicable settlement" with the flying Dutchman before he zipped off to Oliver Tambo International Airport. I suspect he left with a sizeable cheque in lieu of his remaining contract.

Neeskens is not the retiring type. Most other head coaches, having spent more than anybody else in their division only to languish in the relegation zone, might have considered calling it quits. Not Johan. Oh no. Always aloof, keen on being chauffeur-driven by his technical staff and ignoring those players who didn’t live up to his European standards, Neeskens carried on for months after his best-by date.

Like Mark Hughes at QPR, he leaves a club in serious trouble despite serious spending. Sure, Sundowns managed a couple of points in recent weeks – notably a second League win of the season against Telkom KO conquerors Celtic last week – but in truth, they have been in trouble ever since the devastating decline began when they toppled off the top of the PSL midway through last season.

Seven points clear a year ago before the AFCON break, the Brazilians went nuts and slumped out of contention, allowing Orlando Pirates to retain their trophy despite a huge early-season deficit.

Sundowns simply never recovered. A poor end to last season was followed by a disastrous start to this one, despite that opening 4-1 MTN8 triumph over Kaizer Chiefs, who now lead the PSL.

Neeskens should have gone weeks ago. Would have, if mining magnate Motsepe hadn’t been too distracted to notice the players were no longer responding to his brand mumbling motivation. How many of them actually understood the Dutchman's broken English? I guess we will never know.

On Sunday, some five hours after I first tweeted the initial whispers of his imminent departure, club spokesman Thulani Thuswa was first to confirm the wielding of the axe, saying: “I can confirm that coach Neskeens and the club have reached an amicable agreement to part ways. The club president, Patrice Motsepe, praised him for standing by the club even when times where tough.”

And now, anxious Sundowners surveying the sunset await the arrival of failed Bafana Bafana boss Mosimane, a former player who must replace or control a technical team with attitude led by Trott Moloto and a host of former playing stars. There is also the small matter of Katlego "Killer" Mphela's knee operation to worry about. The top scorer's been out all season, though having been an old favourite for Pitso's Bafana we can probably expect a miracle cure.

If succeeding Carlos Alberto Parreira in the South Africa hot seat was tough, Mosimane would do well to consider with some trepidation the ejector seat vacated by Neeskens. Money they have, and talent. More than enough to end the season in the top half despite an awful start. But of spirit, style and salvation there is little sign. 

Pitso has seen hard times, harder headlines before. I hope he’s ready for more.

SOME of this blog will appear as my Neal & Pray column in www.thenewage.co.za this week. Read South Africa's brightest paper every day...

The Sundowns crisis: sadly this is an attempted explanation, not a solution.

When will the Sun top going Down: Johan Neeskens

If there’s one thing Mamelodi’s long-suffering fans deserve, it’s an explanation of the deepening gloom at Sundowns.

On Saturday at the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, the most expensively assembled squad in the country slumped to yet another PSL defeat, this time a limp-wristed 1-0 surrender against Platinum Stars.

To their credit, after the attack on Johan Neeskens following the defeat at Moroka Swallows a week before, the fans took this one on the chin. Heavy security, one arrest and creeping fatalism appear to have calmed the Msandawana fans, once proud to follow South Africa’s answer to Brazil.

But they deserve an explanation for a run of eight games without a win since the streaky 1-0 victory over promoted Chippa United when they kicked off their PSL season on August 11.

In six league games since then, a strike force which includes some of the most expensive stars in the country has produced just two goals and a single point. They haven’t scored in 360 minutes of PSL action in a slide which sees only AmaZulu below the Brazilians in the table.

In the midst of all this, I met two men who know the inside story at Sundowns at a coffee shop not far from their Chloorkop training venue last week.

Though both could be considered to have their own agenda, the lurid tales of life under billionaire Patrice Motsepe made for a fascinating morning. Bank cards with R53million credit being used to buy drinks, Johan Cruyff’s academy being paid an annual R1million and meetings lasting deep in to the night, not all of them involving the unfortunate Neeskens.

Most worrying off all was the repeated claim that a “gang of former players and hangers-on” are constantly chipping away at the Dutch legend’s authority, talking to players behind his back, railing against a man who likes to be driven in the back seat by members of his highly-paid technical staff.

Two characters at the club like to involve themselves heavily in the transfer of players and the signing of contracts. They apparently feel foreign coaches don’t have a proper grip on their beloved club and believe Motsepe’s largesse should come their way rather disappearing off into a European bank account.

There were suggestions that a third man – a member of the Sundowns board with something of a track record – actually encourages fans to cause unrest and knows the individual who attacked Neeskens at Dobsonville.

I have names, but I won’t divulge them. Clearly such tales are nonsense, the fanciful imaginings of men with axes to grind. Possibly.

What can be said is this. General manager Kenneth Makhana has not be a great success, I have many twitterers calling for the return of his popular predecessor Natasha Tsichlas. The ever-growing technical team appear to be following their own agenda. The 30-strong squad is top heavy and over-burdened with midfielders and strikers.

Up front, Neeskens found himself greeted by a galaxy of stars after Trott Moloto’s busy off-season: somehow he managed to add the sought-after Edward Manqele and Eleazar Rodgers to a strike force which already included Emmanuel Baffour; Richard Tebogo Henyekane, Anthony Laffor, th nearly forgotten Kaltlego “Killer” Mphela and Nyasha Mushekwi, the Zimbabwean cup specialist who was denied a move to Furthe in the German Bundesliga.

Juggling with so many expensive acquisitions cannot have been easy for Neeskens, a man who has spent most of his career working as a No2 in highly-organised, cohesive structures.

There can be no question Neeskens has lost the dressing room. With Elias Pelembe given the weekend off for personal reasons at Atteridgeville on Saturday, Teko Modise looks to have lost the spark again, chances were missed, an acceptance of inferiority is creeping in.

And of course, Motsepe – a mining magnate with R23billion to play with – has problems underground of late. When he talks strikers, it has little to do with football these days.

He did find time to back Neeskens over the weekend. Before a “normal” meeting with the players, he announced: “Johan is a great coach. We’ve made it clear we believe in him, we support him.”

With the fans chanting for former Bafana boss Pitso Mosimane’s return, Motsepe added: “Our supporters must be educated. You win, lose or draw, you go through ups and downs. Those who threaten violence must not be allowed to enter our stadiums.”

So Neeskens is not under threat. And he’s not about to resign, despite the sharpening of vuvuzelas among some elements at the club. So there you are Sundowns fans, you have your explanation. But sadly, no solution.

Mamelodi Sundowns results this season:

06 Oct 2012	PSL	Mamelodi Sundowns	0–1	Platinum Stars	Lucas Moripe Stadium
30 Sep 2012	PSL	Moroka Swallows	2–0	Mamelodi Sundowns	Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium
26 Sep 2012	PSL	Mamelodi Sundowns	0–0	SuperSport United	Lucas Moripe Stadium
15 Sep 2012	PSL	Golden Arrows	1–0	Mamelodi Sundowns	Moses Mabhida Stadium
02 Sep 2012	PSL	Mamelodi Sundowns	1–2	Maritzburg Utd	Lucas Moripe Stadium
26 Aug 2012	MTN8	Moroka Swallows	3–2	Mamelodi Sundowns	Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium
22 Aug 2012	PSL	Kaizer Chiefs	2–1	Mamelodi Sundowns	Soccer City Complex
18 Aug 2012	MTN8	Mamelodi Sundowns	3–3	Moroka Swallows	Lucas Moripe Stadium
11 Aug 2012	PSL	Mamelodi Sundowns	1–0	Chippa United	Lucas Moripe Stadium
05 Aug 2012	MTN8	Mamelodi Sundowns	4–1	Kaizer Chiefs	Loftus Stadium

The picture that shames South Africa: Johan Neeskens attacked but carries on

In fear of his life: Tiyana's picture of Neeskens yesterday

JOHAN NEESKENS is 61. He played in two World Cup finals for Holland four decades ago. He is the one name in South African football guaranteed to garner global attention.

And yesterday, unruly Mamelodi Sundowns fans decided it would be a good idea to attack their Dutch coach when the bumbling Brazilians went down 2-0 to high-flying Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville.

Poor security – and a paucity of policemen – saw Sundowns fans hit Neeskens with vuvuzelas, leaving him cowering in the tunnel. As a passionate supporter of the plastic horn, I was assured by everyone during the World Cup in 2010 that the vuvuzela would NEVER be used as a weapon. How wrong we were.

Tiyani wa ka Mabasa from kickoff.com snapped pictures of the incident before Neeskens was ushered away and locked in the dressing room. He emerged battered but unbowed and said: “I am frustrated and so are the fans, but it’s normal in football. Its for the club, its for the players, its for myself, but I can handle the pressure and we have to keep working hard and we have to come out of this.”

 “I am not a quitter, I want to continue to fight, but I can’t do it alone. We need to work together.”

Where many might have taken a riot squad Nyala direct to Oliver Tambo international airport, Neeskens was philosophical: “It’s okay if another coach is coming, it’s up to the board of Sundowns to decide if I will stay or not. The players also need to start to take responsibility on the field.”

Brave words. Words which reinforce the view that the Dutchman, capped 49 times by the Oranje, is no run-of-the-mill second-class European import. When he guided Holland to the World Cup final in Germany, 1974 and Argentina four years later, he was hailed as one of the greats, second only to the great Cruyff.

He won the European Cup with Ajax in 1971 and moved with “the other Johan” to Barcelona in 1974 where further honours awaited. A goal-scoring midfielder popular with fans wherever he went, Neeskens scored 111 goals in his professional career – 17 of them for Holland.

At the tail-end of his career in 1979, Neeskens moved to New York Cosmos, where he met a certain Jomo Sono. He recalls: “Jomo played a year with me there and I thought he was a very good player. A very attacking, skilful player who took players on, and he was also popular in the USA."

Neeskens was still playing professionally aged 40 in Switzerland with FC Zug in 1991 before he embarked on a career in coaching.

Neeskens has never hit any great heights as a head coach. He has spent most of his post-playing career an assistant - to Guus Hiddink with the Netherlands and Australia and Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona.

His only stint as a No1 before his appointment at Chloorkop was at  NEC Nijmegen in 2003. He led the Ere Divisie club to their first European appearance in twenty years in 2003, but was fired in 2004.

Sundowns was never going to be easy. Neeskens found himself backed by a technical team which included big characters like Trott Moloto and Daniel “Mambush” Mudau. People who felt they knew better than a Dutchman in Africa.

It’s true the Brazilians have had a poor start to the new season. Without a win in seven games after their astonishing season-opening MTN8 4-1 trouncing of Kaizer Chiefs, Neeskens appears unable to halt the slump -  just as he did when Sundowns let slip a seven-point lead at the top of the PSL after the winter break last season.

But that is no reason to break down fences. No cause to chant the name of Pitso Mosimane, who left Bafana Bafana with little to recommend him earlier this year. And it’s definitely not worth battering a much-respected footballing legend with a vuvuzela.

I spoke to Sundowns PRO Kabelo Mosito on eTV’s Sunrise show yesterday morning. He talked about holding a fan meetings to explain such behaviour is unacceptable. I told him I’d like the video tapes sent to the police for examination, that I’d like to see the guilty fans banned for life from watching their beloved Brazilians. That’s how it SHOULD work.

A month ago, after watching fans invade the pitch and tunnel area after Orlando Pirates lost to SuperSport United 3-0 in the MTN8 semi-final, I called for action to be taken.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Buccaneers who doubles as PSL boss, chose to charge his own Ghost and the rival Amakhosi for an earlier bout of bottle throwing. But the promised disciplinary action was postponed on the morning of South Africa’s win over Mozambique earlier this month.

Today, acting PSL CEO Cambridge Mokanyane said: "We condemn this kind of behaviour in the strongest possible terms. What we saw at Dobsonville Stadium is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

"This faction of supporters is letting our football down; their actions are damaging the image of a product which has a reputable name around the world.

"We will not allow this kind of behaviour at our stadiums. The safety and security of both the players and the fans is our priority."

But after four incidents, the escalating violence in South African football WILL now attract international interest. And that can’t be good for anyone as Sundowns prepare to play Platinum Stars at the Lucas "Masterpieces" Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Sunday night. We can only pray Msandawana end their miserable run of form.

You can read earlier version of this story as my Neal and Pray column in The New Age tomorrow. www.thenewage.co.za.

Storm brews as Sundowns turn down R5m Russian bid for Siyanda Xulu

To Russia with love: Sundowns defender Siyanda Xulu

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS have turned down a second offer for defender Siyanda Xulu from Russian club Rostov – their decision to reject a R5m bid for the 20-year-old has left his representative Paul Mitchell from Siyavuma Sports “very disappointed”.

Mitchell, who also oversaw Aaron Mokoena’s move to Wits last month, said: “It’s frustrating that the move for Siyanda has been turned down, we understand at the end of the day he’s a contracted player and Sundowns have every right to decide his value.

“But we feel that the over-inflated South African market is now starting to have an effect on young South African players leaving our shores for better things.

“Siyanda has always had a burning ambition to play overseas and has been promised if a reasonable offer came in, he would be allowed to leave. Unfortunately, the offer put forward has not been deemed reasonable by Sundowns and at the end of the day, he’s a contracted player.”

Mitchell took highly-ranked Xulu, poached from Kaizer Chiefs as a teenager, to Barcelona and Arsenal last season, provoking considerable interest. Mitchell said: “He was ready to go to Barca when they sacked their entire academy staff, then we organised a loan move to Atletico Madrid but Sundowns rejected that, they were worried he might lose confidence if, at the end of the loan, a permanent deal never happened.

“Arsene Wenger had a look at him and he liked what he saw. He said Siyanda was a perfect Premier League full-back, he just needed to get used to the physicality.

“Now we have this offer from Rostov, a major club in a big league. I can’t tell you how frustrating this is for a young player like Siyanda. He deserves his chance to play overseas. But as I will reiterate he’s a Sundowns player.”

Rostov, promoted to the increasingly lucrative Russian Premier League in 2008, finished mid-table last season, with Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa and Cameroon defender Benoit Angbwa among their current squad. The club has a unique link with South Africa -  Matthew Booth, Tony Coyle, Rowan Hendricks, Bennett Mnguni and Zaphet Zwane have all played in the popular tourist port.

Sundowns Dutch coach Johan Neeskens said: “If Rostov offer what Sundowns feel is a fair transfer fee then we’ll let him go. He’s a very talented defender and we deserve to get a good price for Siyanda.”

Mitchell added: “Look at the end of the day, we’re in the same position as when the Atletico offer was turned down. Siyanda showed tremendous maturity in brushing himself down and getting on with the job in hand at Sundowns. As we’ve discussed, Siyanda will continue to do his level best for Sundowns and Bafana Bafana.”

While Xulu is in limbo, his club-mate Mushekwi – top scorer in the Nedbank Cup last season -  is also struggling to be released by Sundowns after passing a medical with Bundesliga newcomers Greuthe Furth.

Mushekwi’s agent Ralph Nkomo is hoping the Tshwane Brazilians will accept a R10m bid for the 24-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Belgium’s Standard Liege and English Championship club Sheffield Wednesday after video footage of his six goals in the 24-0 Nedbank Cup victory over shocking Powerlines echoed around the footballing world.

Nkomo said: “We are preparing a proposal which will put Nyasha’s future in his own hands. We are obviously hoping this matter could be resolved.”

And finally, it's done: Tower Mathoho joins Kaizer Chiefs

Born to be a Chief: Tower Mathoho

Kaizer Chiefs have won the battle for the Tower. Yes, they have secured the services of Mulomuwandau Mathoho, the Bloemfontein Celtic centre-back who impressed but just missed out on signing for Holland’s Ere Divisie club FC Twente in Enschede last year.

Though there were groans all round from the estimated 15 million Amakhosi fans yesterday when Free State Stars top-scorer Edward Manqele was sold for a staggering R7m to Mamelodi Sundowns, the towering inferno on Twitter yesterday was the chase for Mathoho.

Over a week ago, Patrick Baloyi, my lively colleague on The New Age, told us Mothoho would become  Chief. But when Sundowns offered to double Manqele’s R500,000 signing on fee and wages of R70,000 a month last month, it looked like Bobby Motaung had been caught short on both players.

But no. Today I can reveal that Tim Sukazi, Mathoho’s agent, was never going to let that happen. While Manqele’s future was determined by his club, Mathoho’s determination to join South Africa’s biggest brand won the day.

Sukazi said: “It as a bit of a shock when we discovered two Sundowns officials camping outside the Mathoho household in Venda. But Erik’s dad chased them away from Tshiondo. The move was always Kaizer Chiefs.”

And I can reveal, with little help from the Star’s Nkareng Matshe, how Chiefs managed see off Trott Moloto as he came to the foot of the 22-year-old Tower, determined to persuade yet another top young star join the Sundowns hordes by waving Patrice Mtsepe’s chunky cheque book.

When Bobby and Chiefs made their approach to Celtic for Tower’s services in May, Sundowns stepped in and offered the thrice-capped Bafana defender better personal terms – Manqela is reported to be on a three-year R90,000-a-month deal at Chloorkop – whilst also offering two players to Bloemfontein.

The Sundowns deal was supposed to R3million in cash plus Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Buhle Mkhwanazi but when one of the players revealed they hadn’t been consulted, the deal fell through.

On Facebook, I received two messages telling me Tower had turned up at Naturena yesterday “with avocados for the lads” to sign his contract as the Manqele deal was echoing around South Africa’s footballing corridors of power.

Then this from Celtic CEO Khuymbulani Konco: “We have received letter from Mathoho saying he wants to go to Chiefs even though we have reached an agreement through Phunya Sele Sele for a move to Sundowns with two players we wanted. But we are under no pressure, Tower has two years left on his contract.”

And finally, after weeks of wrangling, Konco was able to confirm: “Yes, we had been talking to both clubs but we spoke to Bobby Motaung and we made progress.”

Chiefs and Celtic are expected to release a joint statement on the move – with a stated transfer fee of R5m – over the weekend before Tower can begin forging a pre-season central partnership with fellow Bafana defender Morgan Gould, who moved from SupersSport United to Chiefs a month ago.

 Gould and Mathoho join Siyabonga Nkosi as part of Stuart Baxter’s new-look squad for the 2012-2013 season, though Mthokozisi Yende is the latest Chief headed for the exit door to make way for Bobby’s new boys.


These quotes from Khuymbulani Konco have just dropped on kick-off.com:
"I keep on saying that until we announce that the boy has been sold, he still belongs to Celtic. I keep on repeating the same story … you can quote me on that and say 'Khumbulani says; there is no deal that has been signed.' Nothing.
 
"Sundowns are also still in the picture, so don't rule out Sundowns … look, the only reason there is a delay is that Celtic are still looking for a replacement for Mathoho. If we get someone that we are comfortable enough that he is a suitable replacement for Mathoho, then the boy will go but before that, no. 
 
"If we get a replacement today, we will sell the boy today but if we get a replacement in a year's time then we will sign the agreement to sell Mathoho in a year."

Sundowns fall prey to Gavin Hunt and his little big guns... AGAIN

Breaking the dreadlock: Thabo September

It remains one of the great mysteries of football. How unloved SuperSport United just keep getting one over their illustrious Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Today's 2-0 Nedbank Cup Final win for the miracle worker Gavin Hunt is a case in point. Sundowns put out all their stars. Elias Palembe, South Africa's highest-paid footballer. Teko Modise, twice South Africa's player of the year when he was at Orlando Pirates. Wayne Sandilands, the best goalkeeper in the country.
I could go on. And I should mention the fact that the Dutch legend Johan Neeskens opted to leave the alleged Killer, Katlego Mphela, on the bench once more as Sundowns oozed class in the opening minutes.
And Hunt? He had teenaged goalkeeper Rowen Williams as his last line of defence, Morgan Gould captaining on the verge of a move to a more affluent club... and the veteran Thabo September next to him.
Incredibly, the penny-pinching Matsatsantsa (The Swanky Boys, apparently) didn't just beat the Gauteng Brazilians, they crushed them. After spending last week moaning about the size of the R1bn five-year sponsorship deal handed by Vodacom to Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the little guys proved once more than money can't match passion.
Clearly, Sundowns will feel aggrieved. Teko Modise, who left the Buccaneers just before their six-title spree to join the Brazilians, had his chances of ending that personal trophy jinx ruined by last-minute replacement referee Gabriel Sekopo's decision to send off Clayton Daniels.
At half-time, Robert Marawa's SuperSport analysts backed the team named after their broadcasting company, insisting Daniels had to go for denying a clear goal-scoring chance. Rubbish. Goalkeeper Williams and a further defender remained to be beaten when the foul was committed.
Interesting that. Sekopo was only named as the final official at 9am this morning. Zolile Mthetho was announced as the referee on Friday night but mysteriously lost his whistle.
The legendary Dutch master Johan Neeskens, who saw both his league and cup campaigns derailed this season, could barely muster enthusiasm before the match.
He told Carol Tshabalala his side hadn't prepared any differently for the final. Yet for the last two months they've been awful. He appeared dismissive, uninterested in offering his views to the fans. There was a chaotic moment after the red card when his efforts to throw on a substitute and change the shape failed to materialise amid much gesticulating.
Then, after the match, Neeskens said: "It was impossible for us after the sending off. It would have been a better final with 11 against 11. But that is the way football is here."
Sadly, SuperSport (their television interviewers rather than their players) failed to push Neeskens on that. Might have made interesting listening.
Still, after the sending off, Thabo September produced the first-half goal the final needed, thundering in to find a path past my goalkeeper of the season Wayne Sandilands as the man with the Rastafarian hairstyle broke the dreadlock with his first goal of the season.
SuperSport added a second through Kermit Erasmus - was he named after the Sesame Street character? - and it was game over.
Even adding a knock-out cup to the three successive PSL titles they won from 2008 to 2010 won't help SuperSport United's paucity of fans, outnumbered 5,000 to 20,000 in Orlando yesterday. The R6m winners' cheque won't help them to buy top stars.
The Brazilians, backed by billionaire mining magnate Patrice Mtsepe, will remain the megabucks option in the city once known as Pretoria. Hunt will continue to defy the odds.
And even the arrival of the alleged Killer as a second-half sub couldn't alter the balance of power. Modise said afterwards: "It was difficult for us after the sending off. It was a good season for me, but I've got nothing to show for it again. Hopefully things will change."
They certainly will. With Zimbabwean Benjani now available free from cash-strapped English Championship strugglers Portsmouth, Sundowns are sniffing. And that will allow Mphela to switch to Kaizer Chiefs and their new coach Stuart Baxter, the man who recommended Killer to Glasgow Celtic last year, probably with SuperSport captain Morgan Gould, though Sundowns could yet keep him in Tshwane.
And Neeskens, who failed to stop his team's dramatic post-Christmas slump after the 24-goal win over Powerlines in the cup, must surely be considering his future.
Hunt meanwhile will be trying to find a replacement for his key centre-back and leader Gould, just as he did in January 2011 when Bongani Khumalo went off to hibernation with Tottenham Hotspur.
The little man was close to tears afterwards: "That was a great performance. That's one thing this team has. Plenty of heart."
With that he was off to celebrate before tomorrow's PSL Awards ceremony at Gold Reef City, where he will challenge Gordon Igesund for coach of the season. Promises to be some do. And by then we will know where Gould's gold lies.
Ultimately though, this was a fitting climax to the South African season. Though Igesund's Swallows failed narrowly to edge out the Sea Robbers in the League, Hunt's men did the business.
As Thabo September grabbed his green Man of the Match jacket, it struck me - having refereed five Under 7 games this morning: I'm still in love with this game.

Dynamic Pattison could be headed for Moscow as Khumalo hopes for Reading return

Sundowns midfielder Matthew Pattison could be going to Russia with love - after a trial with Dynamo Moscow.
Pattison, widely considered to be unlucky not to feature in Bafana Bafana's World Cup squad when South Africa hosted the World Cup last season, has been absent from Johan Neeskens' Mamelodi millionaires for a week after going on trial to the Russian capital.
While Dutch master Neeskens is being pilloried for his decision to drop goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands for the 3-0 defeat against Moroka Swallows on Saturday, a gloriously oblivious Pattison, 24, revealed: "I went to Moscow for three days and I only got back on Friday. I was on trial at Dynamo."
After seeing Sundowns team-mate Katlego "Killer" Mphela rejected after a similar visit to Glasgow giants Celtic two months ago, Pattison is understandly coy about his chances of a long-term contract with Dynamo.
Often over-looked by new boss Neeksens this season Pattison added: "Maybe I might go back to Moscow again, who knows? I'm not too sure so I will have to wait and see.
"I have to keep my options open, because I'm a free agent at the end of the season. My agent is speaking to Dynamo.
"You have to take care of your own interests and if it is not working out, then you got to move on."
But Pattison is only too aware of the pitfalls of a move overseas to further his career. Bafana Bafana central defender Bongani Khumalo was all set for a glittering career with Tottenham Hostpur when he moved from then-champions Supersports United for R15m in January.
Tman who scored his first international goal in the historic World Cup win over France in 2010 finds himself on loan at Championship club Reading - and unable to hold down a first team place at the Madejski Stadium.
Khumalo, also 24, started first four matches of Reading's crusade to regain Premier League status but injury and the vagaries of coach Brian McDermott's selection process has left him out in the cold at Reading... and Bafana.
Khumalo hasn't played since his Carling Cup defeat against Charlton Athletic at the end of August but insists: "I feel good and strong and ready to play so I just have to wait for my chance."
He told kick-0ff.com: "We're doing quite well right now, so it is unlikely things will change right now – all I can do is keep working and make sure I'm ready.
"I think I've finally settled in now but it has been a tough year for me. I'm getting used to the pace of the game and feeling more confident now."
Reading's lack of enthusiasm saw Khumalo - once considered a certainty as former Supersports United team-mate Morgan Gould's defensive partner - replaced by Siyabonga Sangweni in Pitso Mosimane's Bafana line-upBut after missing the embarrasing 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone - and the misguided post-match dance when Bafana's players though they had qualified for the 2012 CAF Nations Cup - Khumalo confesses: "It's one of the things but the rule is there so we just have to move on now."
Meanwhile Davide Somma, the Bafana striker who suffered a ligament injury at Leeds United last July, may be available at a reasonable fee to one of South Africa's major clubs.
Somma, born in Edenvale near Johannesburg, forged his goal-getting reputation in the United States before moving to Italy where he made inroads as a professional striker. But after impressing with Leeds last season - and making his hastily arranged South Africa debut against the USA - he may now be considered a saleable asset at Elland Road.
With Orlando Pirates suffering numerous injury problems to their big-name striker Benni McCarthy and Kaizer Chiefs struggling for form, a move for Somma is seen as "probable" in the current climate.

Clayton Daniels makes instant bid for signing of the season as Johan Neeskens purrs at last

After a faultless first appearance, there appears to be an instant new contender for signing of the season in the South African Premier League.

For four years, Ajax Cape Town thrived on the industry of one Clayton Jagers, this summer, Mamelodi Sundowns will be parading him under his new moniker, Clayton Michael Daniels.

Before the 27-year-old central defender from the Cape Flats arrived at the self-styled Brazilians last week, we had three leading contenders.

Bernard Parker from Holland’s FC Twente Enschede and Lehlohonolo Majoro from Amazulu have helped Kaizer Chiefs take the early lead in the title race. Benni McCarthy arrived from his goal-free nightmare at West Ham, struck after eight minutes for Orlando Pirates and scored again on Wednesday night against Maritzburg United before his controversial dismissal heralded a shock defeat.

The hype that surrounds Soweto’s big two generally thrusts the Amakhosi and the Buccaneers into the limelight, but there can be little doubt about the performance of the week. Daniels’ debut inspired a 4-0 win over Moroka Swallows at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe stadium, Sundowns’ temporary home in Atteridgeville, west of Tshwane.

Sundowns’ highly-pedigreed new boss, Johan Neeskens, saw his side struggle initially in an opening 0-0 draw with a very average AmaZulu before a 2-0 win over promoted Jomo Cosmos.

But Wednesday night, with Daniels working his magic behind the resurrected former South African player of the year Teko Modise and Bafana Bafana spearhead Katlego “Killer” Mphela, Neeskens was purring after his side had registered the biggest win of the SAPL season so far.

While captain Method Mwanjali sat in the stands watching his hastily drafted-in replacement, Dutch master Neeskens raved: “I’m very, very happy with Clayton’s performance. He has class.

“It’s supposed to be difficult the first time you play for a new team but he showed what kind of a player he is – and I know he can do even better.”

Bemused Birds boss Gordon Ingesund, a man who knows a thing or two about South African football, said: "Playing Sundowns is more like playing Bafana Bafana ... they are all national team material.”

Though Mwanjali will be back for the MTN8 semi-final second leg against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday – there was Method in the madness, Daniels is cup tied for the clash which sees the Buccaneers carrying a narrow 3-2 advantage – the arrival of Daniels will certainly give the SAPL’s leading title winners a significant edge over the months to come.

Daniels himself says: "I have signed a three year deal with Sundowns and I'm hoping my career will get better, that's my aim and I don't see why not because I have joined the right club."

After going on trial to Ere Divisie club Vitesse Arnhem and mother club Ajax Amsterdam pre-season, there is always the Dutch connection. Daniels adds: "I had a big talk with Ajax, they felt it was time for me to move on. Sundowns were interested, they play good football and coming from a Dutch background in terms of coaching I felt that it won't be difficult adjusting to life under Neeskens.”

Daniels, who hails from Bishop Lavis on the Cape Flats, played for amateur Capetonian outfits Celtic United, Clyde Pinelands and Riverside Rangers before being spotted by the Ajax scouting system.

The man who officially changed his surname from Jagers to Daniels “for personal reasons” in February, 2008, adds: "They’ve all given me a warm welcome at Sundowns, the only thing that is left now is to work hard and fight for my place in the team. I am so happy to be at a big club and I am ready to grab my chance.

"I will always be grateful to Ajax. I will always treasure the great memories I shared with them.”

But given the troubled journey of another former Ajax central defender who went north to Chloorkop - Brazilian Eduardo Ferreira, who is now clamouring for a return to Cape Town - Daniels knows he has only just begun.

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