Rulani looking for ‘chemistry’

Despite the fact that fatigue is starting to creep in, Mamelodi Sundowns continue to steam ahead in their quest for a quadruple this season.

Having already won the African Football League, Sundowns are still in the hunt for the DStv Premiership, Nedbank Cup and Caf Champions League.

The Brazilians laboured to a 4-3 win on penalties against AmaTuks on Friday. Extra-time couldn’t separate the two teams either after the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Masandawana play Moroka Swallows in a league match tonight before travelling to Tunisia for a clash against Esperance in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal four days later.

Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena (below) is not certain if he will field his best XI against the Dube Birds at Dobsonville Stadium as he has one eye on the trip to North Africa.

“Let me not give too much away but this team needs to spend time on the pitch together,” he said.

“We have to build chemistry, fluidity and cohesion. The only way we can do that is on the pitch. I want them to play more together and I’m not sure what we will do on Monday [today] but we have to take it one day at a time.

“At the moment they must be exhausted because I am also exhausted and I think the most important thing now is recovery. The last session I only had 10 minutes with them on the pitch and the rest of the time they were in the massage room.”

Mokwena heaped praise on his team’s desire to keep going on both the continent and domestic front ahead of yet another taxing week.

“I like this feeling where I look at their eyes and I can see they want more. We have strong mental fortitude, we support each other and we dig deep, so I’m very proud,” he added.