Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Rulani Wary Of Maritzburg United Ahead Of Nebank Cup Clash

Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Rulani Wary Of Maritzburg United Ahead Of Nebank Cup Clash. Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has admitted to experiencing sleepless nights in the lead-up to his side’s crucial Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash against Maritzburg United.

The much-anticipated match is set to take place on Sunday 17 March at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria. Mokwena, recognized for his outspoken nature, opened up that the upcoming fixture’s significance has been greatly preoccupying his thoughts.

Even amidst their PSL dominance, Sundowns are set to encounter a seasoned opponent in Maritzburg United. Coach Rulani emphasized the necessity for his team to approach the cup game thoroughly prepared.

“We are looking forward to it. It should be an interesting one, a good team with Premiership experience with some very good players and a good coach [Simo Dladla] and have extensive experience in this competition,” Rulani Mokwena told the Sowetan.

“We have to come well-prepared. These games are very tough, and the difficulty is that everyone expects you to win. The pressure is on you, and you have to perform on the day.”

Following the 1-1 draw against Supersport in the DSTV Premiership on Tuesday, Mokwena expressed intent to utilize the Nedbank Cup as an opportunity to address the errors made against Supersport United.

“It’s not easy. The mentality you have must be in the right space and the players have to get into the expectations of the right personnel level,” he said.

“And if we can perform at that level, I think we should be fine. You know, Maritzburg know the league and have a history of doing well in cup competitions.

“We have to make sure we are ready mentally more than anything else. I have to give credit to the technical team we have, particularly our analyses department. They load a bit of information on my side, and we spend time trying to prepare and see exactly how they set up.

“The difficulty is that sometimes you prepare for a certain way of playing, then they come in a cup game where they are playing a team like Sundowns, and they change completely,” he added.