NEWS: ‘It will take two to three years to stop Mamelodi Sundowns’ – Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson on dimming Masandawana’s shine

Johnson seems to have figured out how to dim Mamelodi Sundowns’ torch of dominance in the DStv Premiership where they can secure a seventh straight league title.

Sundowns face Amakhosi on Thursday and the possibility of walking into the FNB Stadium as champions will come alive if Stellenbosch lose their next game against Golden Arrows.

Be that as it may, Johnson is optimistic that his idea can put the brakes on Sundowns if all PSL sides can copy his blueprint.

“I think we need to structure our rebuilding at all different clubs in order to compete with them,” Johnson said.

“The way you restructure your team is that you have to start at the bottom so that at least when you’ve done it – some of us can do it in three two or three years – but the minute that period passes, you have that product ready on the pitch and is able to compete with Sundowns.

“I don’t believe that it has anything to do with the financial clout that a club might have.

READ: TS Galaxy and Sead Ramovic threaten Mamelodi Sundowns’ Rulani Mokwena with legal action

“You can see abroad that Real Madrid have the financial clout, and Manchester City have the financial clout, but they still have to compete with teams like Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspurs, and that’s the gap that you have to try to keep as close as often as possible,” Johnson added.

Chiefs, like Downs, come at the back of DStv Premiership wins against SuperSport United and TS Galaxy respectively.

And while Downs have their sights on writing their name in the history books if they become the only South African team to go an entire season unbeaten, Amakhosi are fighting to stay in the top half of the log.

The two sides will battle and push their different agendas in Chiefs’ backyard, kick-off is scheduled for 19:30, and Johnson is aware of the waves of attack Downs will bring.

“We are playing a team who are confident wherever they play, whether it is in the Caf Champions League, the Nedbank Cup or the league.

“But we are known as Kaizer Chiefs, we got a good result against SuperSport but that does not give us the right to sit back on our laurels and say that the game that we are going to play on Thursday is going to be a walk in the park.

“I think it is going to be a very tough game for both teams and I hope that whatever analysis that we do we will be able to nullify and win the game because it is our home game,” Johnson explained.