JOHAN Neeskens can win the double in his first year with Mamelodi Sundowns, according to striker Nyasha Mushekwi, who has been picked ahead of Katlego Mphela up front this season.

Mushekwi is The Brazilians' top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions this season and, following Sunday's 2-0 win over BidVest Wits in the Nedbank Cup, the striker backed Neeskens to win the competition and Absa Premiership. Mushekwi scored both goals against Wits.

It took one Dutchman, Ruud Krol, three years to win the Premier League with Orlando Pirates, but the forward believes Neeskens, who played with Krol in the Dutch team at the 1974 World Cup, can do it in his first.

Sundowns are four points clear at the top of the Premier League, having enjoyed a good run with one defeat in 16 matches.

"If we play the way we are being taught by our coach - and he tells us to put up these performances every day - then all of this (league and cup double) is possible," said Mushekwi.

He said Neeskens' rotation system, giving all players a chance, as well as his philosophy from when he joined Sundowns at the start of the season, had inspired players to want to win games for him. And the Zimbabwean marksman knows all about sharing a position, as he does with Mphela, who hasn't been shy in front of goals himself this season, being the Premier League's joint top scorer with 10 strikes.

"There's great competition everywhere in the team. Now we have (Anthony) Laffor and this gives competition to the guys playing on the wings (Lebohang Mokoena and Elias Pelembe). And we also have Richard (Henyekane) fighting for his place as well," Mushekwi said.