Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has explained why they struggled to get over the line against AmaZulu in the entertaining 2-2 draw at Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday, saying when he took off Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile it gave the Durban-based side the confidence to fight back.
The duo, who are favourites for yet another major awards nomination this season, were taken off by Mokwena in the 63rd minute, with the game at that time Sundowns in cruise control – leading 2-0.
Shalulile, who scored the second goal, was replaced by Thabiso Kutumela and Zwane’s place was taken by Surprise Ralani, as Mokwena was running the rule in giving other players a chance to play those who haven’t earned many minutes.
Players like Neo Maema and Sipho Mbule, with the latter starting to make his presence felt in the side, were all part of the traveling team but watched the game in the stands, as Mokwena was also managing their workload.
With Zwane and Shalulile off, that affected the attacking pattern as the former likes to play in small spaces, with Gaston Sirino now left alone as his crime partner Zwane was off.
Usuthu were pulled apart due to the movements and the inter-passing between Sirino and Zwane to supply Shalulile, but when that was no longer there after the latter duo was taken off, it affected Sundowns’ flow and gave Usuthu something to build.
They did this by scoring two late goals to salvage a point.
“Normally we rotate the team like this and then there’s no fluidity and we don’t play, but we played very well with a lot of changes,” said Mokwena, whose side are playing for formality now having won the league title with seven games to spare.
“We had a good rhythm, we had good passes especially because we started so well. But we have a hectic schedule. While also managing the results, we also have to manage the minutes.
“It was important that we took Peter out at 60 minutes and Mshishi out at exactly 60 minutes, but after that, we struggled a little bit.
“Like they have been doing, they put on more strikers and they loaded balls into the box and it’s not easy. But as I said, it’s football. We just have to keep knuckling down, keep working and try to improve all team time.”
