Mokwena points out Sundowns’ major improvement this season

The well-pleased Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed the team’s most significant improvement this season.

From the 2023/24 season’s kickoff, the Brazilians have been indomitable as they haven’t tasted defeat thus far.

They have won 12 and drawn one of the 13 games they have played across all competitions including the DStv Premiership, MTN8, and CAF Champions League. Mokwena is happy with their impressive run. However, he said, “This is just a start”, insisting they can do even better.

With what he has seen in this campaign, Sundowns’ gaffer feels they haven’t been dropping the standard even when they have rotated the squad. He says this is one of the important improvements they have made.

According to the 36-year-old coach, the squad rotation wasn’t a solution for them last season as they couldn’t maintain the performance when changing the line-up.

RULANI MOKWENA ON WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THEIR SQUAD ROTATION THIS SEASON

“We may get critisised as Sundowns for the size of the squad but that’s why we need everybody,” said Mokwena.

“And one of the most improvements this season has been that even when we do make rotations and we give players chances, the standard doesn’t drop. We maintain the level of performance and that has become very important.

“I said to them at the end of the last season, I’m not convinced that rotation is a solution that we should be adopting. But the reality is we can’t play everybody in every game and just have a starting eleven.

“We need everybody for a competitive training session, therefore a competitive training session means there needs to be mileage in the legs, and there needs to be confidence in the hearts and the minds.

“And there needs to be a feeling that ‘I can play if I do well’, a sense of meritocracy rewarding good training attitude, good training performances, good match performances.”

Mokwena went on to commend his troops for the unity they have in the locker room. He explained how this is going to be helpful this season taking into account the number of competitions they will participate in. 

UNITY IN THE TEAM

“And you see it with the atmosphere around. You have to be just around these players and around this team to feel that there’s a sense of brotherhood. A deep sense of trust that really bonds them together,” he added.

“That’s very important because it’s going to be a very difficult season. We are not even three-quarters if you look at the number of games and the competitions we have to play.

“This is just a start and a very good start. We have to maintain and try to get through this period just before the FIFA break.” 

Mamelodi Sundowns are in line to win their first trophy this season and second under Mokwena’s sole leadership. They will take on Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on Saturday, 7 October at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

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