Mamelodi Sundowns came away from the Capital City with three more points to add to their tally as they overcame a stubborn AmaZulu FC outfit but one goal to nil.
The Brazilians were made to work for the win after a number of efforts wide wide or were denied by the inspired performance of Veli Mothwa in the Usuthu goal. Speaking about the challenges the team faced on the day, Coach Rulani said:
“We just tried to unlock the bus, their line of 5 wasn’t moving at all, so we just tried to find the half spaces, when you play so far from the goal it becomes difficult to create. We kept the stove hot as they say, we won a lot of second balls, we got ourselves into the right positions especially in the second half.”
“AmaZulu surprised us today, normally they’ve got a 4-3-3 with a 3 man midfield, today there was a tactical surprise that caught us a little bit off guard, but we are prepared for this now. Every match now is against a reinforced defensive block, against teams that park the bus, and we have the responsibility to be the ones that initiate and play on the front foot.”
With no midweek action in the week building up to the match, Coach Rulani expressed his delight with the way the team was able to prepare for the game and provide the coaching staff with a number selection issues:
“I’ve never seen Sundowns train the way they trained this week,ever since I got here, they were unbelievable. I told them that any of the players could feel that today’s lineup was unfair. Any one of them could have started – they were sharp, they were running, they were intensive & competitive.”
Coach Rulani continued to echo the sentiment of positivity around the camp and said despite the results, he is happy with the application provided from his charges:
“We are a good team with very very good players. We’ve got an honest group of players and that’s one of the things that makes you as a coach makes you happy to work with this group – they give their best every time.
The team will go on a hiatus now as the FIFA international break commences before they return to base to gear up for the MTN8 semi-final clash against rivals Orlando Pirates.
Trim this team to a sizeable,manageable bunch of hungry people,unlike this thing of yours whereby you are looking like a bunch of clowns.I mean these players I’ve seen them playing for the national team Ngobeni,Lakay,Modiba,Mashego&even Divine Lunga has played for Zimbabwe 5 players for left back position &expect opposition teams must not park the bus when you buy every Tom&Dick to play for Sundowns.You are no exception from a Mad man who goes &buy five pairs of shoes with the same model,make&brand but doing the same thing.Pitso once said he stopped this madness of buying every player that is on the market now u r starting the same rubbish but now is accompanied by ridiculous excuses of parking the bus,Pep Guardiola is managing with no excuses, you made your bed lie on it.You have been lambasting the national team coach for not selecting Sundowns players&you have been the biggest motor mouth now how can a national coach select frnge players.
Mfana i share same sentiment. 100 per correct u express your feeling South Africa freedom country well done tell them batshela babulala team
Mfana whats happened member u boiling don’t compare schools boys with lecture Pitso use to recruit for reason remember he was in the game been coache different coaches. He knows how difficulties in field had both practical and theory
I’m so sorry member Mzimela it’s just the blood just boils because of frustrations,from a distance our coaches are like making excuses. At the same time high expectations &higher standards of playing are raised by the manner in which we acquired players especially this year.Sundowns is not playing with fluidity that we are accustomed with.Now Sundowns has played more than 9 games &we are supposed to know about the first eleven and that first eleven is supposed to be acting like a well oiled matchine.But I’m so sorry if my comments were so gruesome &aggressive maybe being passionate got the better of me instead of giving advice and words of encouragement I chose to be the worst critic and became a destructive weapon.My apologies to the Yellow Nation.This team still belongs to us all.
But to say Pitso stop this madness its wrong because he’s the one who bought many players and end up not using them,guys don’t blind about the love of Pitso,who bought Nomandela,Ejike,Maquissone,Himmonde,Jody February, Tade,Brockie,Ngele and Mahachi etc,let’s be fair guys Pitso wasted a lot of Downs money by signing randomly, lastly Lakay is 30 years old and his contract will expire next year June we need young blood.
As much as our Wisemen have got their weaknesses but so far its not a train smash and keep on praising Pitso as if he was holy.
Mfana i share same sentiment. 100 per correct u express your feeling South Africa freedom country well done tell them batshela babulala team
@Muzi u jst hate Pitso as a person nje wena,Mfana is ryt,it was Pitso who stopped this madness that wad started by Trott Moloto,I mean how can u buy a left back when u hv 2 players out on loan who play the same position( Lunga & Modise)? Players from development r not getting a chance to play because of this nonsense of buying players that we dont need