Double delight for Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena congratulated his players and club for winning the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title and finishing top of their Champions League group.

Downs beat Coton Sport 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night to top Group B and before kickoff of that game learnt they had won the PSL title without kicking a ball.

News of second-placed SuperSport United being held to a 1-1 draw by Chippa United in Gqeberha arrived before the Downs-Coton Sport which meant Sundowns has an unassailable lead atop the PSL standings. The news prompted more Sundowns’ fans to make their way to Loftus for a double celebration.

Mokwena said the twin distractions of winning the league and having qualified for the Caf quarters made it a tricky game against Cameroonian outfit Coton Sport, who fought for the result despite being guaranteed last place.

“It was a bit difficult because we live in such a digital and social media space and whether you like it or not the players will know,” Mokwena said. “So my speech to them before the game was, ‘congratulations’, because you guys know about it, but now you’ve got [a game]’.

“And really it’s something they need to be congratulated for. And sometimes in SA it’s downplayed, and maybe we are victims of our own success where people undermine the difficulties of winning the Premier League,” he said.

“The league title is the hardest to win in any country. You’ve got to play against 15 opponents home and away and the competition lasts eight or nine months.

“There’s no other competition that lasts as long. Sometimes maybe because of the way it may be perceived, and people start to think it looks easy, that’s actually the most difficult. And tonight’s was maybe a game like that where we had to not be in’a celebratory mood because we d won the championship.”

Mokwena said the game against Coton Sport was tough.

“Congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns, and to the players, technical staff and everybody associated with the club on qualifying for the quarterfinals.”

The Champions League quarterfinal draw will be held on Tuesday.