Mamelodi Sundowns are prepared to face Orlando Pirates in the inaugural semi final match of the MTN8 competition on Saturday at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium. Masandawana defeated SuperSport United 2-0 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals of this season’s Wafa Wafa competition. The first legs of the two-legged MTN8 semi finals are scheduled to take place this weekend, with the return leg scheduled to take place at the home of the Champions three weeks later.
The Soweto giants are now ranked second in the DStv Premiership log standings. The home team has won three of their last five league games, while Bafana Ba Style have been dominant, winning four of their last five league matches and holding the top spot. Brazilians duo Peter Shalulile and Neo Maema attended the MTN8 Press Conference as they both looked ahead to Saturday’s MTN8 first leg encounter with the Buccaneers. The namibian striker stressed the team’s strategy and approach leading up to the mouth-watering match, stating:
“Saturday’s game won’t be an easy one, but the team still has courage and faith. We respect them and will go out there to perform at our best; at Sundowns, we simply do our best. We do not alter the course of events; rather, we ensure that we are well-prepared and that our minds are open to whatever may come. They will be highly motivated coming into the game, but we must keep to our game plan and ensure a solid outcome on the road. This home-and-away schedule is very difficult because you want to leave with at least a win or a goal, but on Saturday we simply have to go there as Sundowns players and do our best as a team to ensure that we win.
Maema continued, “This one is going to be a wonderful battle, and it’s going to be a tough encounter, but at Sundowns we’re used to huge matches, and the one thing we need always do is keep to our aims and defend the cup, because that’s the most important thing. Sundowns has a mentality of wanting to win every football match, and I do not believe the performance of the team in the first or second leg is in question. We are not mentally preparing for the two matches; we simply want to win both.”
After nine matches in the new season, the defending champions have gathered 19 points to lead Ezimnyama Ngenkani by 5 points. Shalulile is wary of the threat posed by the home squad, despite the fact that The Brazilians have won their last two home games against the Pirates by a score of 4-1 and scored 13 goals in their last four contests.
“This is a good season, with all teams coming out to win the League; they are out here to survive and to be in the top eight, especially the Pirates. This season, they have improved to the point where it is evident that they have excellent players.” Said Shalulile.
“It is difficult to score against the backline, but champions continue to bang on the door until they score. As I’ve stated, it won’t be an easy match, but I believe we’ve been able to generate opportunities in every match against a top team in this league. On Saturday, all we need to do is bury the opportunities we get, because Sundowns will produce chances in every game, and it’s up to us as forwards to make sure we score.”
The 26-year-old Free State native has taken advantage of the varied roles in attack that Masandawana have given him. Maema emphasized the importance and urgency of being able to play in a variety of places. “As a football player, you must adapt, be versatile, and investigate various positions. It wasn’t easy for me during the preseason, I had to get used to it, and in that position, the most important thing is how the team performs, not how I perform. I have to adjust as quickly as possible since there are so many players at Sundowns, and if I am given the opportunity to play there, I must do my best.”
His colleague Shalulile, who led the league in scoring last season, became the first forward in a decade to surpass the 20-goal mark in South Africa’s premier league with 23 goals. Shalulile reflected on the 2021-2022 DStv Premiership season and outlined his objectives for the upcoming campaign.
“Last season, it was God’s grace that allowed me to score so many goals, but every striker has a target. First, you must prioritize the goals of the team, and subsequently your own. This season’s objective is to improve upon last year’s performance.
The first leg of the MTN8 semi final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 at Orlando Stadium. Live coverage begins at 15:30 on SuperSport.
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