Rulani Mokwena has admitted that it is not easy for Mamelodi Sundowns to maintain their level in all league and cup games.
While the Brazilians are unbeaten after 10 matches in the DStv Premiership this season, Mokwena’s side have dropped five points from their opening two CAF Champions League group stage encounters.
After kicking off Group A with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Mauritanian side Nouadhibou, Mokwena’s charges were beaten 1-0 by DR Congo giants TP Mazembe and held to a goalless draw with Egypt’s Pyramids FC.
Coupled with their league and continental campaign, Sundowns have also competed in the MTN8 this season, as well as the Carling Knockout Cup.
Mokwena admits that his players are inevitably struggling with fatigue.
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He said in the Sowetan: “It’s my job to make the players understand how important it is to qualify for the knockout phase.
“When I don’t get that desire, it’s not necessarily about the performance of the players. It’s the volume of games we are playing, so if the message doesn’t get through to the players then I have to look at myself first, to say ‘did deliver the message properly’.
“I think maybe I didn’t deliver the message well enough for the players to understand how important it was to win today’s game, but it’s time recover because we have an important game in midweek.”
Mokwena added: “These games are not easy and I do feel sorry for my players because it’s a very difficult month. There’s so many games and everybody wants to beat us. Everyone feels that we have to play at a certain level without understanding how difficult it is to keep going where every three days you’re in camp and you’re traveling too.”
Sundowns are next at home to Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday.
