Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena was visibly annoyed after his side’s penalty shootout defeat to TS Galaxy to be dumped out of the Carling Knockout Cup on Wednesday evening.
A depleted Masandawana side were missing all their Bafana Bafana players as well as seven players with injury, but still fielded a formidable XI, and found themselves 2-0 down inside 16 minutes.
Downs pulled one back in the 56th minute but Bongani Zungu was sent off for a horror tackle on Bernard Parker, whose leg appeared to be broken.
Masandawana scored a dramatic equaliser via Gaston Sirino, who made the squad for the first time this season, in injury time to draw level but lost the game on penalties.
“It counts for nothing doesn’t it,” he said on SuperSport TV.
“Who cares that you are 2-0 down and you are 10 men.
“Who cares that you play the day after – and you tell me of any club in the world, any club, I’m waiting – a day after the FIFA break.
“Who cares that you have the Footballer of the Season not here, that you have the Goalkeeper of the Year not here, who cares that you (don’t) have the Defender of the Year, who cares?
“Everyone will say these are excuses. People will celebrate our downfall and that’s ok, because as human beings we plan but God decides. If he decides that we shouldn’t win, then as one of his kids I have to trust in his wisdom.”
Sundowns will now travel to Angola where they will face Petro de Luanda in the newly-former African Football League.
