Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will be aiming to get back to winning ways as they welcome Durban Ladies in one of the standout fixtures of the Hollywoodbets Super League fifth round of games this weekend.
The Brazilians have enjoyed a strong start to the season and Captain Zanele Nhlapho believes that not even the defeat to UWC can dampen the team’s spirit.
“We returned from Cape Town with a stronger mentality, immediately resuming training, which reflects the hunger within the team. We got back with a different mindset, recognizing that one loss cannot hinder our momentum. This experience serves as both a confidence booster and an eye-opener, prompting us to revisit the drawing board. Everyone is sharp and prepared to face Durban Ladies,” Zanele stated.
After winning the league four times in a row, the skipper reckons that opponents will be extra determined whenever they come up against the two-time Continental Champions.
“As you can see, teams are getting stronger and we anticipate being pushed to the limit. Nevertheless, we must adhere to the tried and trusted philosophy that has brought us much success,” concluded Nhlapho.
The loss in the Mother City was the first defeat Banyana Ba Style has suffered in the last 17 fixtures across all competitions and Karabo insists that lessons were learned.
“Over the years, we have mastered the art of finding the positives even in difficult situations and this is no exception. The game reminded us of the need to convert half chances because you never know how a fixture will turn out. Moving forward, we are focused on sharpening our finishing and capitalizing on every opportunity that comes our way. It is all part of our commitment to continuous improvement and striving for excellence,” the defender stated.
Makhurubetshi also believes the defeat will spur the team to achieve more, “We are all eager to rectify our mistakes from the last game. Our goal is to use this game against Durban Ladies as an opportunity to lift ourselves. While the loss did catch us by surprise, fortunately, there are plenty of games left to play. We are determined to pull up our socks and redeem ourselves,” Makhurubetshi stated.
Sundowns Ladies have dominated this fixture in recent times. Last season, the Brazilians won both home and away matches with an aggregate score of 12-1 (6-1 at home and 6-0 away). The season before that, the Tshwane giants registered a comprehensive 5-0 win at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban and won the return fixture 1-0. In the season before that, Sundowns Ladies recorded a 3-1 away victory and a 3-0 home win over their opponents.
The match between Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Durban Ladies is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 24th, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Kick-off is set for 15h00.
Let’s go there and redeem ourselves from the last game’s loss…. Trust that we sort out our midfield and sharpen our attack to bury any chances that come our way