Eyes On The Prize? Mamelodi Sundowns- Manchester City Cancel Christmas Partying

Footballers are renowned for their fancy taste, be it cars, clothes and all they love the glitz and glamour but it comes at a prize. Mamelodi Sundowns and Machester City players will miss out on the big festivities of Christmas sharing in the love with family and friends as they take business as usual approach and remain fully focussed on reaching their set targets.

Those are the modern demands of professional football. Take it all in and enjoy the huge rewards or remain sulking and forever in despair.

Mamelodi Sundowns effectively cancelled their Christmas as they remain foccussed on their quest to launch another assault and win the top title in Africa.

This means, they will have to remain committed to the cause and continue playing ball while the rest of the country will be off on holiday.

Sundowns play USM Alger in the Caf Champions League in Algeria on December 28 hence will travel on the 23rd arriving on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day will essentially be set aside for rest, recuperation and minimal training.

“What can you do? It’s the life of a professional footballer,” said coach Pitso Mosimane.

On the other hand, Manchester City players have been barred from club’s Christmas party as management fear a slump in the team’s form.

Last year, The Blues lost successive games against Crystal Palace and Leicester last year, within a week of attending the big staff bash.

Although no players missed training last season, many did stay out until the early hours by going to a nightclub in Manchester following the party.

It is believed Guardiola blamed the night out for their shock 3-2 home defeat to Palace two days later, before they were then beaten 2-1 by Leicester on Boxing Day.

City who face Arsenal on Sunday are already 14 points behind Liverpool in this season’s table after 16 matches and will definitely have it all to do if they are to claim and defend their title this season.

By Gerald Dandah