Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is a delighted gaffer as he turns his focus to Yanga whom they meet on Friday. Sundowns bagged their 15th win out of 19 DStv Premiership matches on Tuesday night as they remain unbeaten in the league.
Mokwena now hopes to reach the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League following a goalless draw against Yanga away from home last weekend. In an address to the media after their 1-0 victory over Richards Bay courtesy of Junior Mendietta’s header, Mokwena says he is delighted with Sundowns‘ display.
Sundowns: Why Mokwena is Happy With His Troops
The 37-year-old Sundowns coach, Mokwena says he is happy with his players after snatching a late winner against the struggling KZN-based side at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Mokwena’s sentiments come after making 11 changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Yanga at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania on Saturday.
Masandawana will now turn their focus to the second leg of the quarter-final clash and Mokwena now hopes Sundowns can snatch a win on Friday.
“Just to congratulate the team, I am proud of the players. I am very happy that we won. There are few things I didn’t like about the performance, but that’s okay…the number of rotations with a lot of players who have not played in a long time,” Mokwena told the media 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 never-say-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.”
Sundowns Boss Demands an Improvement From His Troops
Despite the delight, Mokwena added that his men can still improve from where they are with more training sessions as they sights on reaching the semis of the lucrative competition. “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,” added Mokwena.
Sundowns are now scheduled to meet Yanga at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday at 20:00 and the Tanzanian outfit has already arrived in the country.
