Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena. Image: X @masandawana
It’s not easy being a big team – Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena
Rhulani Mokwena has opened up on the heavy weight of expectations that rests upon Mamelodi Sundowns’ shoulders.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena. Image: X @masandawana
It’s never easy going into a game you’re expected to win, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena claims.
The Brazilians head into today’s Nedbank Cup as clear favourites over Motsepe Foundation Championship side Maritzburg United and that makes the task all the more tricky.
Rhulani Mokwena’s side will undoubtedly be looking to go all the way in this year’s Nedbank Cup.
The Brazilians booked their place in the last 16 via an emphatic 6-1 victory over La Masia in their Round of 32 encounter.
Maritzburg United themselves earned an impressive 3-0 victory over Paarl United in their Round of 32 clash.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach nervous ahead of Maritzburg show down
“These games are very tough, and the difficulty is everybody expects you to win,” Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena told IOL.
“The pressure is on you (Sundowns), and you have to perform on the day, and it is not easy.
“You have to be prepared and ensure that mentally you are in the right space. The players have to get into the expectation of the right performance.
Action at the Lucas Moripe Stadium gets under way at 18:00. The match will be televised live on SuperSport PSL.
Unfortunately for many Mamelodi Sundowns and also Maritzburg United fans, SABC1 won’t be televising tonight’s Nedbank Cup match live.
We want to be the best – Mokwena
“I spent some time in Brazil in the off-season and during the break in early parts of January, what we’ve done is incredible, you go to Brazil [and] they speak, ‘Ow! You are the Mamelodi Sundowns coach’,” Rhulani Mokwena said as quoted by Goal.
“The first thing they talk about is the type of football we’re playing at almost every single club. You go to Fluminense, they ask ‘How do you also get the team to play like that?’
“You go to Flamengo, you go to Vasco, Botafogo and they also say ‘unbelievable’. They follow Mamelodi Sundowns, it’s incredible,”
“If the team has that type reach only based on performances on the pitch you can just imagine we scale into the Club World Cup space how much potential does this football club have.
“So it’s the ambition of the club and it’s one we have to work very, very hard to try to reach but for sure with the quality that Mamelodi Sundowns have, the support we get from the club it’s a possibility for sure,”
