We have to focus and make sure that we win this game, it’s a must win to make our supporters happy – Thabiso Kutumela

Mamelodi Sundowns prepare for their return to the DStv Premiership action with an away trip to KwaZulu-Natal to face Maritzburg United after they were eliminated at the semi finals hurdle of the Wafa Wafa tournament. Following The Brazilians unexpected exit from the MTN 8 Cup competition, the Tshwane giants will be looking to restore glory in their camp by winning their upcoming league fixtures.  

“The mood is down but as a big team we have to overcome what happened on the weekend and face the next test which is playing against Maritzburg United. I know how my players are, we will overcome this feeling, it happens to everyone and it’s our turn, but we have to overcome it.” Said Bafana Ba Style’s forward Thabiso Kutumela.

Masandawana sit at the top of the domestic league table with seven wins from their opening 10 games and have won two of their five encounters against the Team of Choice, recording two draws and a loss. Maritzburg have only won once against Sundowns in the past five matches, claiming the victory in their last meeting in March. Kutumela joined the KwaZulu-Natal based team in 2019 and had a wonderful season where he was nominated for the PSL Footballer of the Season award and the DStv Premiership Players’ Player of the Season award. The 29-year-old has been keeping an eye on his former team and observed their current performance, he said:

“Since I’ve left the team, they’ve been playing but they don’t have consistency in their approach and I think we can definitely get three points from them. Their line up keeps changing, even the coach and the players are still new, they are still trying to find combinations and their style of play.”

“I know how they play their games, when they play derby games you can see that they want to win it and also when they play against big teams they show that they have nothing to lose, they give it their everything and that’s why they were able to get three points in the previous game when we played against them. But now we have to focus and make sure that we win this game, it’s a must win to make our supporters happy.”

Mamelodi Sundowns tussle with maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership at Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday, 25 August. Kick off is at 19H30, this match will be televised live on SuperSport TV.