Mamelodi Sundowns are out of the MTN8 following a 1-0 defeat (2-0 aggregate) against Stellenbosch FC in the second leg of the semi-finals on Sunday afternoon at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The Brazilians dominated the ball early in the game, holding up over 70% possession, but the hosts were able to create a few changes that posed a threat to the Pretoria-based side so early in the game. Masandawana equally created clear-cut chances but the Stellenbosch side’s defence was a hard one to crack.
Grant Kekana was able to make an early save when he made an important tackle to clear the ball away from Stellies’ Lehohonoolo Mojela, who was facing goal. In the half-hour mark, Jody February also joined the party when he made a fine save by smacking the shot away from goal.
With less notable scoring opportunities from both sides after the 30-minute mark, the two sides went to the interval deadlocked at 0-0, with the team from the Winelands leading 1-0 on aggregate.
The second stanza saw the Western-Cape based outfit kick start with a goal to see them lead. On the other hand, Bafana Ba Style stayed patient and started to gain confidence in their attacking build-ups.
In the final stages of the match, three dangerous chances were created but none of the hit the net. Two hit the woodwork while a dangerous shot was cushioned by the goalkeeper. The losses in both legs against Stellenbosch means that the Brazilians are out of the MTN8.
How we lined up: February, Lebusa, Mokoena, Kekana, Mashego, Mudau, Zwane ©, Allende, Letlhaku, Ribeiro, Sales.
Subs: Pieterse, Coetzee, Morena, Modiba, Aubaas, Maboe, Kodisang, Matthews, Shalulile.
Mina I will differ with others,there’s nothing wrong with our new Head Coach the problem is the so called senior players that were friends with Rhulani they’re not committed enough or are sabotaging the coach that’s the problem to me.
This team is playing nice football when they like it and onething they must accept is that Rhulani is gone and he will not come back they must take a leaf out of Liverpool players those guys are not dwelling on departure of Klop they are fighting for the badge of the team irrespective which is the coach.
Manqoba put all of them on grandstand and play the hungry players so that they can realise that Downs is bigger than everyone. If you don’t believe me just watch them in our next game in Bafana colours they’ll be unstoppable but come to Downs they think they know it all.
Rhulani spoiled them big time he even used to says they’re his friends. Downs have good players except them players like Mkhulise,Torch,Kodisang,Coetze and not forgetting our new recruit Rayners.Lastly Mr coach put Lebusa and Mashego on grandstand until they become alright,to those whom are crying for Rhulani for nice football just do an honorable thing join him.
I do trust on our Management that other are showing good signs of challenging us this season they can surprise us with the best middlefield we all want which is Feisal Salum because guys we can’t rely only Mokoena alone ,upfront and at the back we are fine now.
@Muzi Kunene if what you are saying indeed is right then Mamelodi Sundowns players are suffering of mental illness because they are not sabotaging Manqoba but they are subotaging Mamelodi Sundowns family, Rulani was not paying them but it’s Sundowns, and Sundowns looks after their lagends and they might also be looked after, and they also subotaging themselves because they made names for themselves and now they subotaging..African people can do it fighting useless thing… No manager that stay in one team for ever and players must know this is business too.. I believe they will come in to their senses soon it’s not about Manqoba but Sundowns and Manqoba didn’t appoint himself
It’s true my broer even We as supporters we don’t sulk when our favourite Manager move to greener pastures because we know we are bind by the contract.
Rhulani spoiled this players big time and they want only to blame the coach and Flemming
Especially the one coming from Supersport U.they think maybe they’re irreplaceable.
Ya Manqoba maybe be floped there with the line up but you can see that if they are serious enough we will be unstoppable and I suspect they’re still communicating with Rhulani about progress of the team,and you’ll hear people whom are supporting a win calling for the return of Rhulani as if he doesn’t have a contract at Wydad.
Even the days of Pitso we didn’t do well on Mtn and if you can watch those two games again you can see We are not that bad as people are saying what is needed is to rectify few things,let’s not being pressurised by the opposition fans even that on Amafans Wethu tv saying this season it will be a disaster thina who grew up at Downs we know this thing will be solved soon sesiphethe abo Rayners and Keagan Johannes at the back.
Muzi, you are spot on these players are not commited, especially Mokoena, and Mudau, during that game I saw Allende running to mark a free man on the box, yet the man who was closer to reach there first was Mokoena yet he was not running back to mark, Mudau several times we had crosses against us from his side and also he was ball watching when the Stellis guy scored right in front of him.My advise is that these guys must be benched, Lebusa and Mashego are commited ,the only problem with Lebusa is that he is very slow, and Mashego is lack of football brains there.Its now easy to attack and make crosses against us these days, from both sides, its bad, no body precents crosses anymore instead we now have to clear them inside the box.
Sundowns is not short of players, if they are not commited, let us play those that want to play .Only Allende, Zwane, Modiba are commited to play in that midlefield, there is no problem up front, you can see the commitment, the problem is that they are unlucky to score, and that there is lack of clear cut chances now.
This three players Modau,Mokoena and Kekana thought they are the main men at Downs since they’re praised during Afcon.
Downs used to have izinja ze game players like Charles Motlohi,Bapela,Moriri etc whom were dying for the team and those players we replaced them easily because no one is bigger than the team maybe they’re angry since we were told two months ago that European teams want them and Downs didn’t released them.
We have Mdunyelwa and Morena to replace now big headed Modau and to Mokoena just watch out boy the window is still open Thlopie can buy a triple good player than you and as for Kekana the less talk the better because Johannes and young Khoza can replace you easily.
In football you lose some and win some, I am fully behind the team and the technical team and the direction the team is taking. Let’s not panic but give the team the moral support because now its not a good time to point fingers we win as a team and lose as a team. Yellow I remain👆
As a passionate supporter of Mamelodi Sundowns, I can’t help but express my concern about some of the decisions being made at the club. One particular issue that stands out to me is the apparent favouritism that seems to be affecting the selection of players.Take Nassir Abubakar, for example. This young player has shown immense potential as a goal poacher. He has a natural eye for goal and, importantly, isn’t lazy on the pitch. Despite these qualities, he is being loaned out and deemed surplus to the team’s requirements. To me, this decision makes little sense. Why are we sidelining talent like Nassir when he could be an asset to the club?It’s not about where Nassir comes from—I’m not Ethiopian, and I understand that everyone may not share my opinion. But as fans, we want to see our best players on the field, contributing to the success of the team. Favouritism, if it exists, could be hindering our progress. Mamelodi Sundowns should prioritize talent and performance over anything else. After all, it’s these qualities that will keep us at the top where we belong.
Guys u can come with thousands excuses u can over haul team nothing will next thing team will be looting the bottom u don’thistory of Manqoba if Sundowns wants to fight relegation must continue we will see new history team wins league 7 timei endup relegated
I’ve read your comments and share the same frustration and JD’s comment about Nassir pains my heart,sometimes i wonder if both our management and technical team know and understand what they are doing.Because no person with a right mind can loan a young,talented,skillful,hungry and hard working player like Nassir,the boy is a fighter,we did the same with Margemen,i always say let’s play talent and commitment not big names.Now coming to the game,a copy and paste of the 1st leg,we played like we were the one leading because were defending,Stellies should have scored atleast a goal in the first half,we waited until Stellies scores to play progressive football,i don’t buy Mangoba story that Mathews was bad in the 1st leg,it is just that himand Peter were always chasing the opponents because of poor midfield,we needed the hunger of Maboe and the aggression of Aubaas in the midddle.Kekana and Lebusa played only back passes and side ways,these two must be benched,we only looked solid when Mudau drifted to central defence.Mudunyelwa or Mudau should be deployed at central defence,the both have pace.On the positive note,Kodisang can play,Letlhaku can play Morena can play Modiba can play,Maboe can play.I don’t know if you guys noticed what i saw,Sales is not a striker but a number 10,the boy is so talented he made things to happen,once he played behind Shalulile he was dishing out good passe,his combination with Letlhaku and kodisang will destroy teams,hope our technical team noticed.During this FIFA break the technical team should try various combinations.We also need another striker who can run to the through balls because that is the only way to break a low blog because right now we have only Rayners hence i recommend Nguse from Arrows, the boy reminds me of Mbesume,our scouts are not doing great job in that regard.Lastly we also needed an element of luck in this competition,i mean we hit the post seven times in this competition and no team scored seven goals in this competition. All is not lost,judging by the amount of talent at our disposal,with the right team selection from the technical team the future looks bright,but only if we play only the players with right latitude not names or previous history.AMEN MASANDAWANA.
Seconded member and there’s no crisis at Downs what is needed is to play the hungry players like Coetze,Mkhulise,Aubaas and Thando Nkosi.
The so called big stars think that we are nothing without them even Mvala can replace Mokoena on middlefield.
I’m very angry with this superstars that are on Bafana,the committed players from that side is Modiba and Zwane kuphela laba abanye let them go asibancengi.
I read one article where they said after the game in Dbn players were told to adjust to the new technical team by the Management and my question is why they must be told that as if they don’t know that their friend didn’t fulfilled the mandate which he was given by the team,that’s unprofessional at its best,coming back to that of Nassir I like him a lot but the problem of him is he injury prone maybe that’s why they want to loan him.
These boys are old enough to stand by themselve, if they fight for Rulani they affected by mental illness, a football player plays only short period of time and a coach can coach up to 65 years so for them fighting for coach I don’t think is a right thing to do, and again they fighting a person who is paying them whats wrong with black child..? Their job is play soccer not control management and stuff if Sundowns was not paying them I would understand… Unless they are gays they are jolling with Rulani then we understand they fighting for their boyfriend… Rulani is gonna be fired there then so if they want to join him once is fired they will follow him… Black child adjust your mind, work for your family
Its funny, really funny, just wonder if the guys up at management are seeing this, i couldnt watch the game bt checked first thing yesterday the 2nd of September and there was nothing abt the game except elsewhere, bt now im seeing an update abt how we bowed out of the mtn8, dated the 1st of September