Mamelodi Sundowns have been quietly going about their business and preparing for this Saturday’s Carling Black Label Cup tournament.
The Brazilians will face AmaZulu in the first semi-final at 9am at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec near Soweto. The second semi-final will see Kaizer Chiefs lock horns with Orlando Pirates at 12pm. The winners of the two matches will meet in the final at 5pm.
Sundowns sealed their last DStv Premiership match with a bang in the first-half, beating Royal AM 3-0 in an away encounter.
The Brazilians have been hard at work and are not taking the Carling Black Label Cup competition lightly. They want to have a good showing before the break ahead of the Fifa World Cup in Qatar later in November.
“It’s been a difficult year, I have said it before, not only for footballers but for society as well. Society is what we are part of because once we leave, we are part of our communities, and going to the break in good spirits influences the energies and happiness of the people around us,” said Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena.
Mokwena said the team will use the Fifa break to rest.
“We can’t wait for the Fifa break, but now we need to drink lots of fluids, rest a little bit and prepare for the Carling Black Label Cup. This is what we need to focus on before we think about going home.”
Sundowns have been consistent in their past six matches in the DSTV Premiership, collecting 18 points and scoring 13 goals in the process.
Mokwena disclosed the formula for his team’s consistency, which has produced great results.
“Teamwork has led us to be consistent in the league. No one is bigger than this football club, we’re just trying to serve it. When you are servants, you forget about yourself and the results, you continue to serve.
“That’s what we try to do as the technical team and as pure football servants. We live, eat and breathe this game, and try to do the best we can for this football club. This game belongs to football players and the game is about the football players.”
He added that their mission has always been to collect three points in every game they play. Sundowns currently sit on top of the log with 28 points and they intend to defend their league title and to conquer the African continent.
As soon as they return from the break, Sundowns will host Orlando Pirates in a league encounter at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on New Year’s Eve.
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