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The defender picked up his third successive league title with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Brian Mandela just clinched another South African league title, having seen Mamelodi Sundowns claim a record-extending sixth straight crown without kicking a ball over the weekend.
That is the third Premier Soccer League (PSL) title for the Harambee Stars defender in as many years with ‘the Brazilians’. However, while the rest are celebrating for playing a major part in the win, it's hardly celebration but rather reflection time for the Kenyan.
Even with seven games to go, Mandela has made just nine league appearances for Sundowns this season, with injuries and poor form conspiring to make it another nightmare campaign with the Pretoria giants.
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11:30 - 03.04.2023
STARS ABROAD Harambee Stars defender Mandela makes PSL history with Mamelodi Sundowns
The milestone was another fete to crown his club career so far.
Of the nine appearances, seven have been starts but what is more worrying is that six of them came in the first month of the season, before injuries took its toll on the towering centre-back.
In total, he has made 14 appearances for Sundowns this season, the other five coming in cup games, mostly as a substitute meant to shore up things when the contest is already won.
This is hardly enough given ‘the Brazilians’ have featured in 36 matches already as they challenge on three fronts; league, CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup.
It was the same case last season when he featured only nine times for Sundowns in South Africa’s top flight despite being available for large chunks while he played 13 times in his debut campaign which was disrupted by injuries.
Granted he could still feature prominently for the remainder of the season, the fact that coach Rhulani Mokwena has not been keen to utilise him since his return from injury should be a cause for concern.
Sundowns are one of Africa’s biggest and best teams and as such, they are always looking to improve. Defence is another area where they will be looking to strengthen which means Mandela’s role will keep diminishing, and he is not helped by his poor injury record.
At 28, the defender is in his prime and should be commanding a starting place whenever he is fit. The fact that he is wasting on the bench, at times not in the squad at all, is not only denying him opportunities but also affecting Harambee Stars badly.
Playing regularly means he will always be in top shape whenever national team assignments come up and would not struggle with the rhythm of the game as witnessed last month against Iran, even if the entire backline was found wanting.
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09:39 - 15.03.2023
STARS ABROAD Brian Mandela features as Sven Yidah misses 19th consecutive match in South Africa
Sundowns registered their 21st unbeaten game with the win over Royal AM.
With his contract up at the end of this season, it would be safe for Mandela to opt against taking the option to extend for a further year and seek pastures new as a free agent.
With his experience, the Kenya international will not be short of suitors and will get a club where he will become a regular, a plus for his career and the national team.
He needs to look no further than the PSL for examples of players who have flourished after leaving Sundowns. Brazilian defender Ricardo Nascimento left the club after falling out of favour and has become a key figure at Royal AM.
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