Sundowns will walk away with a victory

Matthew Booth – Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender & current SuperSport TV pundit

“Looking at Mamelodi Sundowns, they have definitely h hadhd a setback of late. I feel that the combinations up front are giving them a bit of a headache and they are not looking as fluid as they were previously. I think this is normal for a team that has been going through a rough patch and it seems like they are still suffering from losing such top attacking players. But you must remember that they are still such a quality team and I don’t really think iti i will take them much longer before they get back into the rhythm they were in previo ously. When you are up against Sundowns and they have been on a bad patch, you are always a little bit wary because you nnever know when they will start t t tt tto find their footing once again. A wounded Sundowns team can be scary to face. From an Orlando Pirates point of view, I must say that they have been impressive over the past couple of weeks. Over the weekend, they faced a tough AmaZulu side in the Telkom Knockout and they came out victorious. They are looking a lot more fluid up front than Sundowns and that means Sundowns need to be very solid at the back. Their back four and defensive midfielders will have to be on their toes on the day. If not, I foresee Pirates’ attack having a field day. They have a possibility of causing a lot of damage up front and Sundowns need to be aware of that. When you play for a team like Sundowns, you can’t really afford to make mistakes and, as a player, when you are given a chance to play, you have to grab that opportunity with both hands. The players that will be given a chance to play for Sundowns - and even for Pirates - need to be at their best. We saw Reyaad Pieterse in goal against Baroka FC and, unfortunately, he made a blunder on the day and I’m sure that is something he definitely did not want to do prior to such a big match like the one com-

g up. But it is all up to the coach hether he wants to change you or ep you in the team to show you that has confidence in you, but we will nly get to see that once the line-ups e revealed. You know, I wouldn’t en like to give a prediction on this ame (laughs). Generally, when a am has been in form and playing ry well like Pirates have and then ey come up against a team like Sunowns who have been on the back ot… I always feel that the team that as been on the back foot of late wins e game. I would probably say that undowns will walk away with a vicry and I am not being biased here, ut I feel that this is a way for them to rn the corner and what better way r them to do it than against an in- form Pirates team. They will be going all out for this one and to make their supporters smile once again.”