Mamelodi Sundowns have made their intentions to challenge for all the trophies on offer this season clear as they sit at the top of the DStv Premiership log standings after having a fairly decent start to the campaign. The reigning Champions are set to meet yet another challenging encounter in their opening round of fixtures for the 2022-23 season when they battle with AmaZulu on Sunday afternoon in Pretoria in a setup where they will also be celebrating one of their legends Hlompho Kekana at the stadium.
Masandawana have so far displayed their dominance in the league winning five games out of eight, meanwhile their opponents who sit at number five have won only three. Downs new signing Sipho Mbule who joined the club at the beginning of the new transfer window showed confidence in his new family ahead of the clash, he said: “When we look at the games that we have played I think that we create a lot of chances, but the problem is that we were not converting them. I think coming into this game, if we can score the chances that we create [then] things will be easier for us and the fluctuation will stop.”
“They [AmaZulu] are coming from a loss against Chippa [United], I think it’s going to be a competitive game [because] they will want to pick up some points. I think they lost two, drew two and won three. I think on Sunday it’s not going to be an easy game.”
Mbule recently made his debut for Bafana Ba Style in their opening game of the season against Cape Town City and forms part of an important cog in The Brazilians midfield. The midfield magician is confident that the Tshwane giants will win the battle with Usuthu despite the two team’s neck-and-neck encounters in the past. “I think we are going to win our games, there’s nothing similar [with our performances]. As we’ve started against [Golden] Arrows I think we were fluctuating and we weren’t consistent, but I think we are coming back now. I still don’t think it’s going to be an easy game because they have good players.”
“I am very happy, ever since I started with that other one I’ve been looking forward to starting one game at a time. As a player when you start in one game you will want to start as many games as you can, it boosted my confidence and I think I’m in the right space .”
Masandawana will pay tribute to their long serving former skipper Hlompho who lifted 6 Premiership League titles, the 2016 CAF Champions League and the 2017 CAF Super League. Before joining Sundown. Kekana had a distinguished career over 10 years with the Champions side playing over 350 matches, he also had 2 league titles to his name before moving to Chloorkop, making him one of the most decorated players in the Premier Soccer League.
Mamelodi Sundowns tussle with AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership on Sunday, 18 September at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport, kick off is at 15H00.
You played well in the first half of the Arrows game—you and Mkhulisi. The team is blessed with top players in the middle. It will be a challenge. You just need to have the heart. You have skill for sure. But it is more the heart.
I think our attackers should have taken their chances especially Shalulile and Zwane! We need to an out and striker on the bench as well! If Shalulile is out of form or Zwane they need to take out as well!! Not a good at all from our beloved Sundowns!! But congratulations for the 3 points however we need to improve in many areas of our game!!!
This is the 1st time I’m happy with the team selection and the reserves since they took over the reign,well done and keep it up.With this kind of positive team team selection you have my support win or lose.Goodluck.
We just Miss Nashir.
What a boring game. We’re most probably the 2nd most boring team in the league after Swallows. I don’t even understand how we’re top of the log. We have too many cows that don’t eve deserve to be donning our jersey, the likes of Grant Kekana, Rushne de Reuck and Tebogo Mokoena