Themba Zwane has revealed what the Mamelodi Sundowns co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena told the players at half-time of their league game against Golden Arrows to inspire them to victory.
Sundowns won 2-1 at the Tuks Stadium in Tshwane on Saturday evening. Peter Shaulile opened the scoring on the stroke of half time, netting his sixth goal in eight matches. The second strike was an own goal by Arrows defender Siyavuya Ndlovu.
Zwane said they knew Arrows would come back from the break with a renewed vigour which the coaches said would work in Sundowns’ favour.
The KwaZulu-Natal side attacked Sundowns and found the equaliser through their star player Pule Mmodi, four minutes into the second stanza.
However, Sundowns restored their lead a few minutes later as their pressure and continuous attack forced Arrows’ defence into making a mistake, resulting in Ndlovu finding the back of his own net.
“We pushed ourselves even though it was difficult. We knew they would come with a low-block, and we had to penetrate and take more risks and put the ball in the box, try to take our chances,” Zwane told SuperSport Tv after the game.
CO-COACHES WORDS
“We wanted an early goal, and we knew that if we can get a goal in the first half, the game will open up; that’s what the coaches told us at halftime, and it opened up, and they pressed us.
“And for them to press us, they are going to open at the back, and we will try to penetrate and get another goal, that’s what the coaches.”
With the win, Sundowns return to the top of the DStv Premiership, a position Orlando Pirates held for about 90 minutes after beating TS Galaxy 2-0 at Orlando Stadium before the Downs game.
The Tshwane giants, on 16 points, have now won five of their eight league matches with two defeats and a win.
