Having kicked off their Nedbank Cup campaign in dominant fashion, Mamelodi Sundowns will look to maintain their formidable form when they host Maritzburg United on Sunday.
Sundowns host the lowly-ranked Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) outfit in a battle for a spot in the competition’s quarter-finals at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 18:00.
Masandawana got their campaign underway in true Bafana ba Style fashion, beating the Daine Klate-coached NB La Masia, also from the MFC, by 6-1 in the Round of 32.
Sundowns have proven to be in a class of their own in South African football with Maritzburg needing an impressive strategy if they hope to cause an upset in the competition.
Downs coach Rulani Mokwena has already given the impression that they are not going to underestimate the Team of Choice, who were campaigning in the top tier last season.
“We are looking forward to it. It should be a very interesting game with the PSL experience, with some very good players and a good coach (Simo Dladla) who has extensive experience in this competition and the PSL,” Mokwena said.
“So, we’ve got to come well-prepared.
Rulani Mokwena says they will analyse Marizburg United with the info on his laptop that has five passwords. #NedbankCup | @iDiskiTimes pic.twitter.com/pYPJp2oyKT
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) March 14, 2024
“These games are very tough, and the difficulty is that everybody expects you to win, and the pressure is on you. You’ve got to perform on the day,” he said.
“You’ve got to prepare mentally. You’ve got to be in the right space, and the players have got to get into the expectation of the right performance level.
“If we can perform to that level, I’m sure we will be fine.”
Mokwena added that Sunday’s clash will be an opportunity to rectify aspects of their game they failed to accomplish in a 1-1 draw against SuperSport United in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday.
While the Team of Choice are languishing in a disappointing 10th position in the second tier, they will take confidence from being unbeaten this year.
From their last five outings, Maritzburg have managed two wins and three draws.
📺 After the highly contested #TshwaneDerby, Matias Esquivel was on hand to share his reaction! 👆#Sundowns #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/LY6XcO9UUi
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) March 13, 2024
