Mphahlele wants 'Downs to react

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele confessed the team need to make up for their stuttering start when the Premiership resumes.

The Tshwane giants were overthrown in the league last season by Kaizer Chiefs, and have endured a poor start to the new term with just four points from their opening three league matches, while they also crashed out the MTN8 at the quarter-finals.

Sundowns will resume their Premiership campaign after the current FIFA international break, on September 12 away to Golden Arrows, and newly-appointed captain Mphahlele knows they need some big improvements if they are to wrestle the crown back from Amakhosi.

"It is not the best of starts but we've moved on from the loss and we still have 27 games to go. No need to panic it is still early," Mphahlele told KickOff.

"We want to start collecting points now but it is going to be a difficult season because teams are giving their best and you are not guaranteed that when you play certain teams you are guaranteed a win.

"That's what we want, we don't want one team beating all the teams. We want a competitive league and I think this is what we are going to get this season."

Sundowns will keep active during the FIFA break when they compete in the uThungulu Mayoral Cup at the uMhlathuze Stadium in Richards Bay on Saturday, September 5 before taking on the Nedbank Ke Yona team at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.