April has been a difficult and challenging month for Mamelodi Sundowns with the Men’s team participating in three competitions, playing nine games across the DStv Premiership, the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Champions League.
Games included a draw to Al Hilal away in Sudan and a home loss to CR Belouizdad which ended the teams unbeaten streak which stretched back to the opening game of the season. At home, the DStv Premiership took center-stage with a number of games to fit into the schedule, an away trip to Polokwane resulted in a 3-1 victory over TTM before that win was followed up by a 2-1 triumph over Chippa United in East London. The league action took a backseat as Downs focused on the showpiece of the month, a crunch showdown against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final. Bafana Ba Style emerged as 4-1 victors on the day and subsequently went straight in the semi-final against TTM a few days later, which ended in a penalty-shoot out defeat for Sundowns after 120 minutes of grueling action.
The backend of April saw three consecutive league games against AmaZulu FC, Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows, which saw the team claim two draws and one defeat.
With all events in April tolled, Masandawana now head into May fighting on two fronts, in the DStv Premiership and the CAF Champions League following the exit in the Nedbank Cup. Bafana Ba Style will go into the business end of the season knowing what is at stake, with the vast experience amongst the coaching staff and senior players in the squad set to carry the team to the finish line.
The DStv Diski team returned to action in the new ‘Rewired’ edition of the competition, which saw the 16 teams divided into two streams, competing for a place in the final. The Diski boys, lead by Head Coach Surprise Moriri, played four games in April, winning two against Bloemfontein Celtic and Swallows FC, drawing against Black Leopards and suffering a defeat to Baroka FC.
The Sundowns Ladies team kicked off their SNWL title defence in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 victory over Golden Ladies at the team’s new home ground in Groenkloof, Pretoria. Led by Coach Jerry Tshabalala, the Ladies will be competing domestically in the league and are also preparing to compete in the Women’s CAF Champions League for the very first time.
I wish them all tje best ahead of very taugh caf competition, it won’t be easy for our team to beat Al ahly but in them i trust the the best team we have and it is very wise for ours to play an attacking foot due to get goal away…… But I’m wondering why the coaches don’t play The likes of Makgalwa, the likes of Kampinga those guys they need a time game