The Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team announced their strong presence as they got their campaign of the DStv Diski Challenge underway through a 3-0 victory over the Richards Bay Reserves on Saturday afternoon at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Durban.
The young Brazilians were looking to pick up from where they left off last season, and they sure did when they struck three goals in the first half. It was the heroics of Thulani Zandamela and Onele Rulwana that saw them kick start the new campaign on a high note.
Right from the off, the visitors made their intentions clear as they posed a threat a minute into the encounter, but the chance that came from Rulwana to Zandamela went over the bar to deny them what would have been one of the quickest goals in the reserve league.
It however, did not take long before they could hit the front early. After a sustained spell of pressure in the danger zone, Oarabile Booysen’s cross found Rulwana on the right, who then supplied it Zandamela. Zandamela then zipped it off through on the 13th minute, to open the flood gates for the Pretoria-based side.
Four minutes later the young Brazilians were celebrating their second goal through Zandamela again, who went home with a brace. The supply came from Malibongwe Khoza who made a defence-splitting pass to find Zandamela in the front. The striker did not waste time as he turned to hit the net, making it two for his side.
Just as the team was relishing in the second goal, a third came on the 20th minute. It was Booysen who drove the ball to the left flank, crossing it to Rulwana – who was named the man of the match – who then headed it into the box to make it three.
The home team made a few attempts to get a goal too in the first half, but they couldn’t get it right. the Brazilians went to the break three goals up.
The second stanza saw the visitors continue with their dominance, but they couldn’t convert more goals, even with the many chances they created in front of goal. They wrapped up their first game of the season with three goals and three points.
How they lined up: Biyela, Mampane, Sibiya, Khoza, Norawana, Nkosi ©, Kekana, Ngqakabana, Booysen, Zandamela, Rulwana.
Subs: Shabangu, Nkabinde, Siquba, Mokoena, Mokoele.
