Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rulani Mokwena, says his teams lots a lost a very important game against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup.
The Nedbank Cup defending champions lost 2-1 at Athlone Stadium – the match was also Mokwena’s defeat since taking over as the head coach.
“We lost a very important game, a game that we knew we could not lose but that’s the life of big teams and we have to get used to it,” Mokwena said.
“What I will echo, not a lot of credit is given to this team for the amount of work that they’ve done, and for being clearly the best team in the league. And when you hear opposition coaches who also have a competitive streak in themselves, saying that clearly they’re the second best team in the country, it is because Sundowns is the benchmark and by far the best team in the country, but that’s not good enough, you’re only as good as your last performance in football.”
“We’ve got to prove every single day, every single training session and every single match that we are the best team in the country and that means we have the responsibility and the pressure of playing under that mark with that tag behind us.
“It’s not easy, it’s the hardest thing but it’s the best thing to give you the competitive urge. Unfortunately, we didn’t have that today and we lost to a better side on the day.”
Sundowns next match is against CR Belouizdad in the Caf Champions League.