Mamelodi Sundowns team against Chippa United at the Loftus Versveld Stadium. Image: BackpagePix.
What worries Sundowns about Maritzburg – Rulani
Rulani Mokwena’s Mamelodi Sundowns take on Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup. Here’s what worries the Downs coach.
Mamelodi Sundowns team against Chippa United at the Loftus Versveld Stadium. Image: BackpagePix.
Mamelodi Sundowns have another football match this weekend. It’s Nedbank Cup action at home to Maritzburg United.
What’s going through coach Rulani Mokwena‘s mind?
NEDBANK CUP LAST 16 FIXTURE: SUNDOWNS VS MARITZBURG
Another week, another football match for Kabo Yellow. When will they ever rest?
The DStv Premiership and African Football League (AFL) champions are expected to make the changes on Sunday. The last game was on Tuesday at home to Tshwane rivals SuperSport United. The result was a 1-1 draw, courtesy of a Teboho Mokoena stunner for Sundowns and a predatory tap-in from Bradley Grobler for SuperSport.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Nedbank Cup game, Sundowns coach Mokwena said has something to be careful of. The Soweto-born coach believes one can do all the homework, but teams like Maritzburg can arrive to do something completely different in big games.
“We have to make sure we are ready mentally more than anything else. I have to give credit to the technical team we have, particularly our analyses department. They load a bit of information on my side, and we spend time trying to prepare and see exactly how they set up,” Mokwena said via Sowetan.
“The difficulty is that sometimes you prepare for a certain way of playing, then they come in a cup game where they are playing a team like Sundowns, and they change completely,” the Sundowns mentor added.
MARITZBURG EXPERIENCE
The club known as the Team of Choice were relegated last May. They finished in 15th place before Cape Town Spurs took them down in the PSL Relegation/Promotional Play-Offs.
Mokwena added that Sundowns should be aware of Maritzburg’s DStv Premiership and Nedbank Cup experience.
“We are looking forward to it. It should be an interesting one, a good team with Premiership experience with some very good players and a good coach [Simo Dladla] and have extensive experience in this competition. We have to come well-prepared. These games are very tough, and the difficulty is that everyone expects you to win. The pressure is on you, and you have to perform on the day.
“It’s not easy. The mentality you have must be in the right space, and the players have to get into the expectations of the right personnel level. And if we can perform at that level, I think we should be fine. You know, Maritzburg know the league and have a history of doing well in cup competitions,” the 37-year-old Sundowns tactician concluded.
