Mamelodi Sundowns has had a terrible week, since the passing of Anele Ngcongca. The mood was sombre going into the clash against Stellenbosch. It was an emotional match for Masandawana and nothing other than three points would have been befitting to celebrate the life of the fallen teammate and brother.
Masandawana started the game with intentions of winning and that was evident in the pressing game they applied and the sweet inter-passing amongst the front three. It only took seven minutes for the Brazilians to take the lead as Peter Shalulile found the back of the net after a great pass from Kermit Erasmus. Shalulile has now scored three goals in the DStv Premiership so far.
The visitors kept trying to find room and play but the high pressing game of Masandawana would not allow them to do so.
In the sixteenth minute, the ball was played out and both sides had a moment to celebrate the life of “Koti” as they stopped playing and clapped in honour of the fallen stalwart.
As soon as play resumed Masandawana were back where they left off, with Lebo Maboe finding himself in a great space and firing a shot which was saved by Lee Langeveldt. The Brazilians front trio was proving to be a thorn in the Cape Winelands side’s defence and in the twenty-fifth minute Erasmus found space in the box after a great pass from Shalulile and he dispatched the shot behind the well-beaten Stellies keeper. The attack of the visitors with Lelethu Skelem and Mendieta caused no threat to the Downs defence in the opening forty-five minutes as the game went to half time with two goals to nil for the home side.
With only forty-five minutes left, three points at stake and an opportunity to go back to the top of the log standing, The Brazilians had to step up a gear and the front three did just that, as Erasmus found himself in the box after some great fighting by Lyle Lakay to win the ball – Kermit passed to Themba Zwane who needed no second invitation as he scored.
The game was in the bag and the technical team made a couple of changes that saw Aubrey Modiba and Lesedi Kapinga making their first start in the DSTV Premiership. Haashim Domingo also came in and the three substitutes displayed some great football and in the shoeshine and piano way.
Three points collected at Loftus Versfeld and a great win to celebrate the life of Anele Ngcongca.
How we lined up:
Onyango, Morena, Lakay (Langerman 65′), Nascimento, Madisha, Jali (Domingo 73′), Maboe, Coetzee, Erasmus (Kapinga 65′), Zwane (Modiba 73), Shalulile.
SUBS:
Mweene, Mudau, Lebusa, Kapinga, Kekana, Langerman, Domingo, Modiba, Makgalwa
Thank you guys for the three points and I like to commend our lovely coaches for listening to us when We cry,its not that we are undermining their work,firstly we cried about Kekana that he’s tired and costing his partner in the middlefield and guess what they listened and put him on the bench,secondly we also cried about not fielding Kapinga because we know what’s he’s capable of guess what they fielded him today and I like their combo of him,Maboe and Domingo.
Pls coaches keep on like that We are very much appreciating and I still believe they’ll be a team that will get a heavy score from us this season,Kby forever
Good result, good for the team. Rotations are good, let everyone have a test and a feel, the right time for challenging positions is after a few games, the player would have seen and learnt how he will be expected to play. To just throw someone in with close observation can cause a player to make mistakes and end up playing his own football outside the team style of play. Couches know how and when to do it. Even good players when too much load is put on them immediately they miss it because expectations will be too high .Players like Hlompho are very important in the team, but it does not mean he must be played through out, he must rejuvenate ,let the boys do the running, we know when he is important. Reserve that energy for the right times. Let other guys find their feet too and be evaluated. The other guys are tried and tested, l still feel Kapinga will surprise many, let him arrive and adapt properly , He has a good work rate and is a talented player. The players must not despair, they must know they can not play all at once. Work hard all the time waiting for your opportunity which will come if you don’t join the complaining crew. New arrivals must work an extra mile hard in order to break into a team that has been doing right already.
Well articulated member
wow, always marvellous to watch these young boys doing their passes, sharing the ball, exploring spaces….wow.
To the coaches, thanks very much for giving Kapinga a game time. I think soon we going to see Motupa in the fore making some runs.This is the Sundowns we used to know, back to its ways of winning and entertaining its supporters.KBY…….Much as we the only team that dominated the former ABSA Premier League, and even give them a sent-off, looks like we gonna dominate the DSTV as well. I like this team.
As for Sirino, he will regret his shananigans soon. How could he be so unprofessional and unappreciative of what the team has done for him throughout he stay at Chloorkop.He is such a shame.
Lastly,congratulations to the “Jingles” up in Cairo.The gentleman just not cease to amaze us with his achievements.
I just think MR Motsepe should fire whoever is handing transfers in the team.No normal person can ask for 92 million for Sirino,the guy is old and overrated he doesn’t even deserve 30 million,if young Percy left to England for 50 million,why can’t an old Sirino leave for 46 million,how much did we spend on him to this far,surely is not 30 million during his stay at Downs?, someone clearly knows nothing about business.