Sundowns coach Mokwena issues simple warning to Komphela

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena warns Moroka Swallows boss Steve Komphela that football is played on the pitch.

This comes as the current Sundowns mentor admitted that Komphela knows his players very well, but he argued that the game of football is always evolving ahead of the MTN8 clash.

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Sundowns will welcome Swallows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and Mokwena has shared his views on the eagerly anticipated match.

SUNDOWNS COACH MOKWENA ISSUES WARNING TO KOMPHELA

The two South African giants, Swallows and Sundowns, will meet for the first time since Komphela left the reigning DStv Premiership champions during the off-season.

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Speaking to the media, Mokwena is somewhat wary of Swallows, who will be difficult to break down in Tshwane as both sides look to reach the semi-finals.

“He knows us very well,” Mokwena said to the media.

“But football is played on the pitch. The game belongs to the players. At the end of the day, we have to do the best we can and impose ourselves, get the pictures out, and hopefully, we do that well and get the win at the end of the game.”

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With Mokwena’s troops in high spirits after beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the league in their midweek match, the 34-year-old tactician knows that Masandawana could be an open book to the Dube Birds.

The Dube Birds have yet to taste glory in the new season after registering one draw and a defeat in the league, but Mokwena expects a tough encounter.

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He added that Swallows would be a tough nut to crack as they are coached by one of the brightest minds in Mzansi football, Komphela.

“It’s going to be a difficult game. They are a strong team with good players, and we have to make sure we are well prepared for what will be a difficult encounter,” Mokwena reacted.

“I watched them against Arrows, an interesting game, (they had) flexible organisational forms. Also (against) Cape Town City, they made changes, but they were very aggressive with their fullbacks and some interesting pictures that we saw.

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“It’s going to be difficult to break them down and to get the result.”

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