Mamelodi Sundowns are prepared to continue with their winning momentum in the DStv Premiership after the International break period when they travel to the Cape Town Stadium this weekend for a clash against Cape Town City. Having met once already this season, the encounter between the two teams will be a heated contest, and Downs’ talented midfielder Aubrey Modiba has said that the team are well rested and prepared ahead of the encounter.
“We are ready to go again. The FIFA break has helped us a lot in terms of any injuries that we had in the team, everyone is back now and we have a full squad that is ready to compete. The break has also helped us with our preparations to come back and go again.”
“I think we have analyzed them enough for us to be able to identify their threats and their weaknesses as well. They will make it tough for us but we prepare differently with every team that we play against because teams play differently. We’ve watched the MTN8 Final and the few games that they have played in the league, we have analyzed them and we are preparing accordingly and we will be able to do the work that needs to be done and win the game.”
Having played the same amount of games thus far in the DStv Premiership, The Brazilians are top of the log with flying colours securing a 12 points difference to The Citizens who are ninth in the league. Both teams are the two sides of the same coin, they play attacking football and as seen in the recent MTN8 final this is one of the most entertaining clashes on the South African football calendar. Modiba described the awaiting encounter to be demanding.
“They are a very good side as we have seen playing against them in the MTN8, they put up a fight and equalized, they have good individuals and quality of players that can change the angle of the game, and they also play good football. It’s gonna be a different ball game, right now it’s not just a once-off game, every team wants points so I think they are gonna make it hard for us because this is a home game for them, but we are ready for the shift.”
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Coach Manqoba Mngqithi said The Brazilians are eager to do battle with a City side that they are familiar with: “We’ve played against them in Cape Town, we know what they are capable of, they also know what we are capable of. It’s going to be a very nice game for the spectators, that’s all I can tell you.” I
The majority of the squad had time off during the international break and Mngqithi commented on the fitness of some players who were battling with injuries before the break: “The break at the right time for us, we had a few knocks, Rivaldo [Coetzee] and [Khuliso] Mudau had knocks – now all those players are back in training and we almost have a full strength squad.”
The Brazilian’s record against the Cape Town based team is in good form, during the 2020/21 season Bafana Ba Style defeated City in both the first and second round of their domestic campaign. The Tshwane giants won 2-0 in the first meeting between the two clubs followed by a hammering 3-0 on the final day of the season as Sundowns went on to lift the DStv Premiership trophy.
Mamelodi Sundowns play against Cape Town City on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium, kick off is at 17h30.
