Mokwena – I Can’t Celebrate Draws At Sundowns

Rulani Mokwena has insisted he cannot be celebrating draws at Mamelodi Sundowns after his side scored a late equaliser against Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Saturday.

Khuliso Mudau scored the late 1-1 to wild celebrations from the players and the technical bench, after Edson Castillo had given Chiefs a 1-0 lead.

When it looked like Masandawana would lose their first game of the season, which would have only been the second defeat of Mokwena in 41 games as Downs head coach, his side found an equaliser to salvage a draw – which Mokwena said after the match felt like a victory.

“I have to be careful because I can’t be a Sundowns coach and celebrate draws. I will get into big trouble,” he told reporters.

“There is a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation, for sure, maybe not for the scoreline but the performance in its entirety and for the process of showing desire and wanting to win every match.

“I think that’s still very important for us as a club and us as a team, and big congratulations and big appreciations for that.”

Mokwena also discussed the early substitution of Themba Zwane, after he got accidentally hit by Yusuf Maart’s boots, which left him with a cut in his face.

“He is so important, especially for two reasons for how we want to play and number two because he’s the captain,” he added.

“Losing him was big blow and we’re literally down to bare bones in the attacking department with the strikers and we’ve to make due with what we have.

“Mshishi was playing in a 10, 9 position, where we don’t have Nasir [Abubeker], we don’t have Peter [Shalulile], we don’t have Thapelo Morena, we don’t have Thapelo Maseko, so you can understand what it does.

“But, at Mamelodi Sundowns I’m not paid to make excuses, I’m find solutions and together with the technical team we did our best again today to find solutions.”

Sundowns now head into the international break, where they will have time to recover some injured players before facing Bumamuru in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round.