Sundowns have Morena backing
BAFANA STAR: TEAM WILL ALWAYS FIGHT TO THE END
Michaelson Gumede
Mamelodi Sundowns are traditionally a high-scoring team but this season they have blown a little hot and cold in front of goal. Yes, the defending Absa Premiership champions did put five past AmaZulu in the Telkom Knockout last-16 and they did score 11 goals against Seychelles side Cote d’Or in the Caf Champions League in September, but even head coach Pitso Mosimane asked his supporters not to look too much into that demolition job against the weak Seychelles outfit.
The Brazilians meet Chippa United tomorrow afternoon in the TKO quarterfinal, and Thapelo Morena has admitted that Masandawana need to improve in attack, but he says their never-say-die attitude in the opposition’s penalty area will see them prevail against the Chilli Boys.
“Every time we train we normally look at our finishing but if it is not your day then it is not your day, like the game against AmaZulu. We created chances and in the last minute of the first half we scored and when we came back we scored four goals. Against Highlands Park we created chances but we couldn’t convert and we got the most important goal at the end,” said Morena, referring to Mauricio Affonso’s late winner against Owen da Gama’s men.
“I think it is our attitude to fight to the end as long as we remain without a goal, we will try and push until we get that goal. At the end of the day we have important players who we look to and we know they can win the game for us. The most important thing is that when we get the chances we have to convert them,” said the versatile Bafana Bafana international, who turns out as a right-back, a right-winger or as a striker for Bafana Ba Style.
Morena is delighted by the introduction of lanky striker Affonso, saying he and the wingers alike are now able to send over quality crosses for the Uruguayan forward, who has scored three goals off the bench in four appearances for Sundowns.
“He brings more depth, is a player we can always play the ball to. The most important thing for us is that when we get into these positions to cross we usually go hard and low but now we have the option to play the ball high because we have players who are strong in the air.”