Sundowns’ cup quest means they must not be the fall guy

Mamelodi Sundowns continues its quest tonight [April 12] to annex the next three trophies this season – the Nedbank Cup, the league championship and the Caf Champions League.

The Tshwane outfit will lock horns with Tshwane counterparts, University of Pretoria FC, better known as AmaTuks, this evening at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville outside Pretoria when the two sides do battle for the semi-final spot of the Nedbank Cup.

Masandawana, as the team is known to its avid fans, is already in the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League and has opened a healthy lead of 13 points from 20 games in the 16-team league. They also command a record of being the only side that is still unbeaten with 52 points.
Sundowns’ nearest rival, Stellenbosch FC, has played 22 (39 points).
When one of the sports scribes at the pre-quarterfinal presser urged the Brazilians’ coach Rhulani Mokwena to encourage his side to eat more bananas for stamina, Mokwena retorted, “We try by all means not to eat any bananas so we don’t slip on their peels.
“We hope we don’t slip on any peels at this stage, especially tonight as we combat AmaTuks in the Nedbank Cup, so we progress into the next round and continue our dream in this tournament as well.”
AmaTuks coach Tlisane Motaung said as much as they respect Sundowns as one of the biggest clubs in Africa and the domestic league, his side was not going into the game as sheep to the slaughter.

“We want to give them a run for their money in the hope of ending their quadruple dream. We are where we are in this competition because we are in it to compete and win, and winning is what will be at the back of our minds when we meet tonight,” Mofokeng said.
“We can beat them the same way we did Moroka Swallows if our preparations go well, coupled with a little bit of lady luck on our side.”

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