Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise says his side will show no mercy to bottom-placed Maritzburg United at Loftus Stadium later today, because they’re chasing their own targets.
Mkhulise says they want to end their domestic season on a high note before they can be handed their sixth successive DStv Premiership title.
On top of that, Sundowns are motivated to clinch the league in style with a record tally of 72 points, nudging their own record of 71 points, which they created in the 2015/16 season.
Sundowns will also be lifting the trophy in front of their own fans for the first time since the 2020/21 season, as last season they lifted the league after they beat Royal AM away at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban, and Mkhulise says they want to do it in style.
“We want to win so that we go to the podium, we [want to] go there with a victory on our side,” said Mkhulise.
“We have to celebrate after we have got the win.”
This game between Sundowns and Maritzburg was brought forward as Tshwane giants will host Wydad Athletic Club in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final on Saturday.
As a consequence, Tuesday’s game has caused lots of fury within the camp of Maritzburg, who wanted it to be postponed as all other teams in the league will play their last games on Saturday.
Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia even wrote a letter to the league demanding fairness, as teams they are fighting at the bottom such as Chippa United, Marumo Gallants will have an unfair advantage as they will know what they have to do on Saturday.
Maritzburg have put up a minimum of two to three buses that will ferry fans from Pietermaritzburg to Pretoria, according to Kadodia, as they feel 12th man factor will help them get over the line against Sundowns side they have not defeated away since 2012 in the league match.
It is why Mkhulise is wary of danger they will pose to them, highlighting the threat of Karim Kimvuidi, Amadou Soukouna, who crucially scored the goal when Maritzburg beat Stellenbosch FC, and Rowan Human.
“They have good players such as Kimvuidi especially in the half spaces,” said Mkhulise, who was born in Pietermaritzburg where Maritzburg is from.
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“They have their striker – Soukouna, he’s very good and dangerous in the box. They have players like Human, who is also good on the ball to create something.”
