Captain Themba Zwane and shot stopper, Ronwen Wiiliams say winning the season’s curtain closer in the topflight is important, ahead of Saturday’s encounter against Cape Town City at Loftus Versfeld.
The Brazilians secured an historic seventh successive DStv Premiership title at the beginning of May and are now looking to create more history by registering a win at home, which will make them the first team in South Africa to finish a 30-match season unbeaten. Previewing the last league game, Williams reflected on the successful season the Pretoria-based outfit has had. He also highlighted the importance of taking their last league match as an important match, just like any other fixture.
“It has been an amazing season especially in the league. We have been nothing short of amazing throughout the season. Our consistency, relentlessness, brotherhood and fighting spirit throughout the season have been so key. This game has so many big things to it. If we avoid defeat, we will be the first team to get the invincible tag in South Africa. That’s massive and I think we fully deserve it,” the skipper stated.
The Downs goalkeeper also highlighted the crucial role that the Yellow Nation played this season. For him, it is important that the team lifts the silverware and celebrate this historic moment with the supporters.
“With the hard work and sacrifices we have done throughout the season, I think it would be perfect for us to end the season with a win, especially in front our supporters who have been amazing this season. I would like to urge them to come out in numbers and show appreciation of the work that we have done. It’s been tough and we’ve had a lot of challenging moments, but they stuck with us throughout the season. Let’s make it a wonderful day of celebration. I can’t wait to see them so we can lift trophy together,” Williams stated.
Masandawana are playing against a Cape Town City side that is seventh on the standings and won their previous game. They will come with the confidence from that win but according to the Bafana Ba Style captain, his side won’t be resting on their laurels as they are looking to finish the season strong.
“Obviously for us, it’s an important game and it’s a game that we have to win. We want to close off with a win and should we win, we will make history of being unbeaten this season. So, it’s very important for us to go all out and try to win the game. It’s going to be a very difficult game because Cape Town City is a good team with a good coach. They play good football, so I know it’s going to be an exciting game of football,” Zwane stated.
The midfield maestro concluded by praising his coach, stating that his side keeps improving under the leadership of coach Rulani.
“It’s been amazing to have coach Rulani coach us. He’s an amazing human being and what I appreciate more about him is as a player, you improve a lot when you work under him. We always learn from him and he motivates us all the time. We enjoy playing under him and we are a happy side.”
Mamelodi Sundowns do clash against Cape Town City on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld. They will also be celebrating their 14th league title. Kick-off is scheduled for 15H00, live on SuperSport.
I don’t know what to say…. except🤔
Bad starting 11 to start with!! Substitutions that took place were merely to correct those blunders!!
Thank you Rulani for leading the team, we highly appreciate your work…. But we want Champions league now not that excuse of yours telling us about your age, you know the mission we conquer Africa by winning Champions league… We don’t care about your age,even if you were 5 years old we want champions league…
Well said Makhosonke I concur with u,but strangely Rhulani just becomes childish.I mean after the injury on Shalulile I thought he knew that we need 2 or more strikers 2 complement Shalulile bt he added more midfielders who added no value in our mission 2 conquer Africa.The league is finished bt he will buy wrong material again when he sees Sundowns is in need of more than 2 central defenders.Then he will hold us with this nonsense of 1000 passes and invincibles,I feel nothing about yesterday’s loss as long as we win the Nedbank cup.Because lost so much crucial games at crucial moments bcoz of this rubbish of unbeaten run &we ended losing Tebogo Mokoena in a futile exercise,of which we should have collected 3 points somewhere instead of that Swallows match.We r league champions now with a more than 20 points gap,so in all we sacrificed the Champions league for 20 points gap.We nearly lost Ronwen Williams yesterday for a game and a league match that is already gone but forgetting that we r having a cup final next week where our no.one goal minder is needed dearly.The problem with Rhulani is big headed and will cost us big time.Ribeiro is a Sundowns material and Mendieta is aggressive in attack what is needed in Africa,but was sidelined 4 reasons known 2 the coach.Then the next thing Rhulani brought left footed midfielders and assisted us with nothing not forgetting his friend Lorch who was just given a starting berth no matter how his performance was.Then after his mission has failed he started with his I’m still 37 years excuses yet he sidelined mature minds that made Sundowns 2 win the treble..In reality Rhulani as a coach is still yet 2 prove he can win a domestic cup,Nedbank cup it is…..
Masandawan you are naïve if you think Rulani ca win champions league,the guy doesn’t know how to play for a win but for statistics only.He is arrogant,stubborn and coward,favouritism is his first name.We can’t lose games because of one same reason(Mvala) the boy is terrible,can’t head the ball,no ball control,no timing,always gets yellow card whenever he plays but he forever been selected ahead of the deserving players.He’s the only professional player I’ve seen missing a ball with his head since I started watching soccer.I’ve said several times the Lebusa and Mvala combination is a disaster they are both reactive,they think when the ball is already on their feet.There was no season for Zwane to play that game or 94 minutes,this thing of sentimental team selection is awful to our team,you could see his body language that the poor guy is tired,Sundowns is playing passive football when he’s playing,maybe some people have not noticed,rewatch games where Zwane played,every player tries to pass him the ball even when others are on good space to receive the ball,he would then go sideways or pass it back and even when other players make good run he’ll never play through ball,what is the point of fielding players with pace upfront and play 90% of the ball at the back,there’s no logic in that,Morena and Matthews were like spectators upfront with no service.I’ve always maintained is your goalkeeper has more touches than your infield players the you are playing passive football,Williams had more touches than any player of the both teams.Word of advice just cry now so that come Saturday we have already cried,we work for our goals but we give away goals like SASSA grant because of MR ball possession coach,I’m even tempted to call him MR Shineshine. We desperately wanted to win the league in style,you could after the game in the dressing how players were very much disappointed,you would be convinced we lost the league coz it really feels like that because of one stubborn coach, maybe he’s friends with some agents of other players.We have a very strong team but Rulani weakens is with his team selection and style of play.We can give him 20 years,he will never play in the final of champions league with his style of play.I’m very much disappointed and hurt on how we ended the season.