Arendse aims to extend record
HE HAS NEVER LOST TO SUPERSPORT Tinkler’s side have imploded after a promising start.
Wayne Arendse has never been on the losing side in an Absa Premiership Tshwane derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and crosstown rivals SuperSport United since he joined the Brazilians from Santos about six years ago.
Sundowns host Matsatsantsa tonight at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, in a fixture Arendse and company have dominated over the years.
Title-chasing Masandawana have won nine out of the last 10 league meetings between the sides, and Arendse is aware of how desperate United are to get one over their old foes.
“We have been dominant in the derby. In the back of their mind, they obviously think they need to win one derby at least. So I think it will be a very tough game, physical and those sorts of things,” said the 33-year-old Arendse.
“We don’t need to get ahead of ourselves because we know how to play these types of games and how to deal with these rough games and those sort of things.”
Downs are chasing a third league title in five seasons, and lead second-placed Kaizer Chiefs by five points, with nine games remaining, while SuperSport are posed with a different challenge altogether.
Eric Tinkler’s side had title aspirations after a fine start to the season, but their campaign has collapsed following a tiring run to the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup final. And with that in mind, Arendse knows it will be a fierce battle for the points.
“We are chasing to stay up there, we want to get as many points as possible, and for them it is a totally different case. They want points in order to not drop into the relegation zone and also to jump into the top eight,” he said.
“I think the guys are experienced and they know what to do in those situations, we’ve been playing many derbies and we know how to win it,” he added.
The message from his coach Pitso Mosimane – who will return to the dugout after serving a twomatch ban from pitch side – is that they need to play cautiously.
“We have to be very careful of who we play and how we play them. At this point we just want to keep it nice and tidy.”