Are Sundowns complacent after securing league title?
"There will never be a game where I am in charge of and there is no aggression – no chance," said Mokwena.
Mamelodi Sundowns given a guard of honour by Swallows FC on Sunday. (Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
If you are of the view that Mamelodi Sundowns have lifted the foot off the pedal after they secured the DStv Premiership title, Rulani Mokwena would love to debunk that perception.
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Sundowns were held to a second successive goalless draw by Swallows FC on Sunday after the champions also failed to find the back of the net last week against Cape Town City.
“There will never be a game where I am in charge of and there is no aggression – no chance,” said Mokwena.
“These games are very difficult because in football you need a lot of conditions to have the intensity.
“We played against an opponent that were holding on to a point at home and we needed a very good pitch so we could move the ball. Dobsonville Stadium’s pitch was dry and bumpy.
“We were responsible for the tempo of the game and we did all we could,” Mokwena added.
Meanwhile, the Masandawana mentor took time to clarify his comments about Cassius Mailula as he said he would have preferred to have had the 21-year-old playing for the junior national team instead of Bafana Bafana. That statement was interpreted as though Mokwena suggested that Mailula was not cut out to play for Hugo Broos’ side yet.
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“How can Cassius be ready to play for Sundowns against Al-Ahly and he is not ready for Bafana?” said Mokwena.
“Offensive players get better by being on the pitch and I would have loved to see Cassius on the pitch against Congo for 90 minutes rather than getting a cameo for Bafana. I would have loved for him to carry the junior national team with pressure and that would have helped him to improve and get the experience,” said Mokwena.
He added: “We need to give the young ones a chance and I have a different way of working with youngsters. You see them in and then they are out of the team again, because we have a plan for them.
“We have to quickly remind them that there is a long way to go, they have to work for it.”
