Mamelodi Sundowns are preparing for one final round in the MTN 8 Cup competition that will be played on Saturday against Capetown City at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Masandawana are gearing up for a mouthwatering trip to Durban as they prepare to fight to get their hands on the elusive MTN8 trophy and bring the highly anticipated silverware back to Chloorkop. Bafana Ba Style forward Sibusiso Vilakazi is amongst the many star-studded players that have contributed to the teams successful journey into the final round of this competition. Vilakazi advised on the importance of preparing well for the encounter, just as they have prepared for all the battles they have conquered.
“It’s a cup final with expectations, but the most important is to take it day by day and focus on our training sessions [because] those training sessions in particular will help to prepare for the prize on the weekend. We deal with this pressure on a daily basis, we take every training session very importantly and we prepare very well with those training sessions and that will lead up to us being ready for the final.”
The last time The Brazilians tasted success in the top 8 competition was back in 2007. During the time that has passed Sundowns have gone on to claim every piece of silverware available to them both domestically and continentally, the MTN8 being the missing piece of the puzzle for the current generation of players. Vila commented on the importance of securing the trophy this weekend and gave his thoughts on how much it would mean to the club and it’s supporters.
“We know that it’s very important for us to lift this trophy, it’s important for us to make history and it’s important for us to make the team stay on top as much as we can. It’s important for us to keep the momentum of winning things because we are a team that is always looking to strive to dominate, this is an opportunity for us to dominate and put the trophy in front of us and celebrate and show our greatness as we start winning everything.
“Even with the final itself, it’s an opportunity to win that football match on the day and it’s important to lift the trophy and after winning it is celebrated, but afterwards it’s on to the next one and we move on. At the end of the day we have to deliver, that is what we are going to do on the day and give our best performance that can help the team lift the trophy.”
Vilakazi reflected on recent run of form that has seen him help the team not only in this competition but also in the league and the CAF Champions League. With high amounts of competition for places in the team, Vila suggested that everyone has to be ready to help the team when granted the opportunity to play.
“It really feels good to contribute, especially when it’s contribution that makes the team collect maximum points and get into the group stages, but most importantly when you have been called up you have to be ready, you have to stay focused and stay in the zone of helping the team. I’ve made progress and that really feels good, I am sure that each and everybody that has been selected and called upon itches to come in and help the team, most importantly help the team win football matches”
Mamelodi Sundowns do battle with Cape Town City for the first piece of silverware this season this weekend at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kick off for the MTN8 final is at 18H00 and the game will be broadcast on SuperSport PSL channel 202.
