A game featuring two of the top teams in the DStv Diski Challenge is coming up when the Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team face the Orlando Pirates Reserves on Sunday afternoon in another exciting festival.
The Brazilians find themselves three points shy of their opponents and will be looking to close the gap when they meet. The last time the two sides met, Mamelodi Sundowns lost and heading to this game, they will want to avoid another loss against the Buccaneers, especially at this stage of the competition. Coach Themba spoke on the importance of walking out of the return fixture victorious.
“We have watched the game we lost against Pirates again. We know the mistakes that we made, which cost us the game. We have also watched their recent matches and we have picked up their patterns. In this upcoming game, we have to make less mistakes and utilise our chances. It’s a big game and the boys are very focused,” the Diski Coach stated.
“It’s very important to win this game because it’s good for the brand and their development but we are not obsessed with that. We are just working on improving their performances and get positive results. they know this is the most important game of the season but it doesn’t stop there, we have to go again in the other games,” he continued.
Masandawana will play without an important player, Siyanda Nyanga, following an injury he sustained in their previous encounter against Lamontville Golden Arrows, shortly after he scored the leveller for his side. The Diski Team coach gave an update on Nyanga. He said: “It’s quite a bad injury and it’s disappointing that the referee didn’t even give a foul or speak to the opponent. We are just waiting for the full report from the medical department but he is someone who will be on the sidelines for a very long time. It looks like his season is over but hopefully he can recover on time to maybe help is with the last push. We’ll be hopeful for that.”
Despite Nyanga’s absence, Coach Themba is optimistic about his charges displaying good football and scoring important goals on Sunday, after a successful week of preparations.
The mouthwatering fixture between the Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team and the Orlando Pirates Reserves will take place on Sunday afternoon at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve. Kick-off is set for 14H00, live on SuperSport TV.
