Mokwena lauds Sundowns after last-minute triumph
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena praised his players after snatching a late winner against struggling Richards Bay in the DStv Premiership match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday night.
The last-gasp win was secured through a deadly header by Junior Mendieta in optional time which ensured Sundowns maintained their lead at the top of the DStv Premiership table with 49 points from 19 games.
What pleased Mokwena was that even when he rotated his squad, they still managed to get the victory.
Sundowns made 11 changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Young Africans in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania last Saturday, as Mokwena kept an eye on the return leg tomorrow.
He was also happy with the never-die attitude as Mendieta scored in optional time with the match heading for a draw.
“Just to congratulate the team, [I am] proud of the players, very happy that we won.
“[There are] few things I didn’t like about the performance, but [that’s] OK ... the number of rotations with a lot of players who have not played in a long time,” Mokwena said after the match.
“With the turnover between the games, we don’t train. But [I am] happy with the attitude, the energy and the spirit of the brotherhood.
“I’m happy with the neversay-die attitude, to keep on trying. These types of games are difficult and even some of the big teams are struggling.
“We had to be patient and keep on trying. [I am] proud of the effort of the players. I’m happy with the substitutions.
“I’m happy for Mendieta because of his attitude.
“It has been difficult for him, the adaptation, the language, injuries.
“But he fights, he trains well and he has a good attitude.
“Happy with the results: we needed to win against a team that was not here to win.”
Mokwena also warned that his side could still improve with more training sessions.
“We will improve, this team will get a lot better and that’s what a lot of people don’t think about with more training days and the only thing to improve is to train.”
Sundowns will shift their focus to the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Young Africans tomorrow, where a win will see them into the semifinals.