No let-up as Downs head to ’Burg

MAMELODI Sundowns coaching staff have continued to preach to their players that they play every game to win. That they had bagged a huge win before should not open room for complacency, instead it should motivate them to be better.

Few teams visit the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo and beat the African champions and world’s third-best ranked team in the world, Al Ahly, in their own backyard. But Downs achieved that feat with a 1-0 win in the Champions League.

The win consolidated the Brazilians’ spot at the top of Group A with seven points. And it came against Pitso Mosimane, the man who once led them to 11 trophies in less than a decade.

Fresh from that victory, the Brazilians returned to domestic matters aiming to consolidate their spot at the top of the log standings. They thrashed TS Galaxy 3-0 as they surpassed the 50-point mark.

“The truth is, such milestones have an impact on the team. From what we see we think it has had a very positive impact,” said Downs co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi after his team’s win in Nelspruit following the historic victory over Al Ahly.

“We were a little bit worried before the match that subconsciously there might be elements of complacency based on the results that we got in the game against Ahly. But we worked very hard on the minds of the players (to prevent that).

“My sincere thanks to coach Rulani (Mokwena), coach Steve (Komphela) and coach Wendell (Robinson) who made sure that we preach the message to the players and make them understand that we play every game to win as a team.”

Downs lead the PSL standings with 51 points, 18 ahead of second-placed Royal AM, ahead of their visit to Maritzburg United.

Mngqithi is worried about the threat posed by Maritzburg at the Harry Gwala Stadium tonight. The Team of Choice are flirting with relegation – they are four points off the bottom.

“We believe that our players understand the importance of giving it their best shot and giving the respect that is required and never develop any form

of complacency because our journey is still very long,” he said.

The win over Galaxy also took the pressure off the shoulders of striker Peter Shalulile. Before that game, Shalulile hadn’t scored in his last five games in all competitions.

“As a striker if you don’t score goals you get frustrated, but at the end of the day there’s nothing you can do but to keep on going and working for the team. Everything has its time,” said Shalulile, the league’s top goal scorer with 14 goals.

BackpagePix PETER Shalulile of Mamelodi Sundowns appears to have put on his scoring boots again. | GAVIN BARKER