No slowing down for Sundowns
After extending their unbeaten run in Premier Soccer League matches to 40 to set a new benchmark after their 3-0 victory over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, Mamelodi Sundowns are not planning to slow down.
It is a year and five months since Sundowns last suffered a defeat at the hands of SuperSport United on September 2 2022. They are on course for their seventh league title in a row this season and look unstoppable at the moment.
A hat-trick by Lucas Ribeiro Costa was enough for Masandawana to keep their lead at the top and reach 10 goals in the scoring charts.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena says they still want more as they are not satisfied with what they have achieved.
“This season is not done yet. I was listening to [Mikel] Arteta [Arsenal coach] speaking about players playing 70 games in a season and that’s exactly what’s happening with us if you think about where we are, having played 16 league games now.
“Last season, in the first half, we played 30 games and now 16. You put the Bafana Bafana games, seven, plus the qualifiers, and you skate very close to 40 matches that some of the players have played. That takes a lot of good mentality, very good lifestyle, a lot of sacrifices ... and a lot of credit and compliments need to go to the players who are very good human beings.”
Mokwena also praised Ribeiro for his performance against AmaZulu. “Very good. I liked his performance, also in the last game when he came on as a sub in the Champions League [against Nouadhibou],”
“And the message they got is they have to score to play and to score so many goals without Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile sends a strong message for the competition for places.
“This is the mentality. He is a good person. He wants to celebrate other people’s success. But this is the type of group we have. Good human beings, very honest even though they are tired. I’m very privileged to work with this group.”
Sundowns will switch their focus to the CAF Champions League final group match against TP Mazembe this weekend, where the winner will top the group.