Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena lashes out at the fans for their boo-brigade behaviour as they set a new record on Tuesday night. Sundowns defeated Sekhukhune United 2-1 in their DStv Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to set a new PSL record.
The Tshwane giants are unbeaten in the league over 22 matches and that is the new longest unbeaten run record in the PSL. While Mokwena has praised his side after their win as they are closer to bagging the league title, he was unhappy with a section of the fans who booed an erratic defender Brian Onyango.
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In the clash, Mokwena introduced a changed personnel as they arrived on Tuesday morning from Tunisia where they lost their CAF Champions League match to Esperance.
Mokwena’s Sundowns Sets New League Record
Checking out his starting eleven, Mokwena had the likes of Onyango, Denis Onyango between the posts, and Rivaldo Coetzee who was handed the skipper’s armband. Despite their fatigue resulting from a congested fixture schedule, Masandawana scored as early as the first minute through Tashreeq Matthews before Thapelo Morena doubled their lead within 10 minutes. Sundowns now have 56 points at the summit and have eight matches to finish their campaign, will they finish as invincibles?
Sundowns: Matthews Magic vs Babina Noko
The Cape Town-born striker was handed his first full 90 minutes and his pace troubled the visiting defence. Matthews scored the first goal, provided an assist for Morena as he walked away with the Man of the Match Award.
Mokwena Lashes Out at Boo-Boys
In his post-match reaction, Mokwena was critical of the boo-boys, saying his players deserve all the support rather than being booed. He singled out Onyango who is also a human being and capable of making mistakes.
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Despite the 11 changes, Masandawana came storming out of the starting blocks and were 2-0 inside 10 minutes. However, Sekhukhune grew into the game, with defender Onyango somewhat struggling.
“But when fans were heard booing their own player, Mokwena turned around to plead with them to abstain from such behaviour. Yeah, but it’s the style of play. Sundowns supporters must believe in the style of play. We’ve worked too hard to build this. And in fact, this is the culture of the team,” he told SuperSport.
“I say to the players all the time, I say, ‘we don’t have – like all the other big teams – we don’t have the age, the history, in relation to how long of a club, we’re not the oldest club. So in terms of history and pedigree, the others have [that]. The one special thing we have is our style of play.”
“And this thing of shoe, shine, and piano, “the Brazilian” doesn’t come with me, it does not come with me. I looked at a clip the other day of the club being run, I think by Zola Mahobe or the Tsichlas family. And I could see Mark Anderson receiving the ball from the back, there’s Jazzy Queen [Legodi], there’s Zane Moosa passing and passing and passing a little bit at the back, and Nanana, Mike Ntombela, the greats of this football club, this is the style of play they understand.”
“And now if the Sundowns supporters start to panic about the players, what’s going to happen, these players must make mistakes. And football is a game of mistakes, but it’s a game of mistakes to be corrected, not a game of mistakes to panic, and, and it will never happen.”
What’s Next for Sundowns:
The Brazilians will now shift their focus to the crucial and eagerly anticipated semi-final second-leg encounter that will be played on Friday at the same venue. Mokwena is aware that his men have to reverse their 1-0 defeat to reach the final for the first time since 2016.
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