After Pirates beat Sundowns 3-1 to win the MTN8 Cup, here’s what Mokwena said

Mokwena’s Reflection on MTN8 Final Loss and Sundowns’ Resilience

Orlando Pirates had faced a formidable opponent in the Mamelodi Sundowns, who were considered overwhelming favorites.

The absence of Costa, a key player, had led Mokwena to make adjustments, introducing Neo Maaema in support of Peter Shalulile and Themba Zwane.

However, the Pirates seemed to handle this threat effectively, even in Costa’s absence.

Early Threat from Sundowns

The match began with Sundowns pressing high up the field and looking dangerous.

Their early opportunity came in the 5th minute, when a costly back pass from Bucs defender and skipper Tapelo Xoki gifted Peter Shalulile a chance.

Pirates’ Limited Opportunities

On the other hand, Pirates had limited clear-cut chances during the game.

Their best opportunity came late in the match when Kermit Erasmus set up Monnapule Saleng. However, the Bucs winger chose to shoot wide.

Chaine’s Heroics

Sipho Chaine, Pirates’ goalkeeper, played a pivotal role in ensuring the team’s victory.

He made a crucial save eight minutes from time when Marcelo Allende unleashed a powerful shot, a moment when Sundowns had the upper hand.

Challenges Due to Wind

Both teams faced challenges due to the windy weather, which disrupted their normal passing game.

Accuracy in passing became a struggle, resulting in both teams failing to complete 100 passes during the first 45 minutes.

Pirates’ Ball Dominance

Despite not creating many clear-cut chances, Pirates dominated in terms of ball possession during the first half. They controlled 60% of the ball and frequently ventured into Sundowns’ danger area.

Coach’s Attempted Changes

The Bucs coach attempted to change the dynamics by introducing Relebogile Mofokeng and Karim Kimvuidi for Patrick Maswanganyi and Zakhele Lepasa.

However, the windy conditions continued to pose challenges, especially when Sundowns pressed hard and committed numbers forward in search of an opening goal.

The Penalty Shootout Decider

After a goalless 120 minutes of play that lacked spectacle due to the challenging conditions, the match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.

The Pirates’ goalkeeper, Sipho Chaine, emerged as the Man of the Match and was instrumental in their victory. He saved spot-kicks from Teboho Mokoena, Junior Mendieta, and Bongani Zungu.

A Successful Defense of the Title

With the penalty shootout win, the Buccaneers successfully defended their MTN8 title, adding another R8 million to their trophy collection.

Mokwena’s Response to Defeat

Sundowns’ head coach, Rulani Mokwena, acknowledged the disappointment of the MTN8 final loss. However, he emphasized that there are plenty of other opportunities for silverware ahead.

He praised the effort and selflessness of his squad despite the challenging conditions and the absence of key players.

Mokwena’s focus remained on moving forward and achieving success in the upcoming matches and competitions.

A Tough Encounter

Mokwena acknowledged that challenging conditions and pitch conditions played a role in the final. He pointed out that the pitch was long, heavy, and slow, which affected the quality of the match.

He said, “The conditions were quite difficult, and even the pitch wasn’t the best—quite long, heavy, slow—even though they tried to water it.“

Proud of the Players

Despite the difficulties, Mokwena was proud of his squad’s efforts and dedication. He commended their ability to generate chances even without key players like Thapelo Morena and Lucas Ribeiro.

He assured fans that Sundowns would continue to strive for success in the upcoming matches and competitions.

He stated, “But okay, it sounds like sour grapes when you speak about conditions when you don’t win. Let’s stay with what it is—let’s leave things on the periphery; let’s talk football. On the football field, we did our best; we tried very hard; we are in a difficult moment.“

Moving Forward with Confidence

Mokwena expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back. He emphasized the need to focus on the positives and the team’s determination to win.

He said, “But to generate the amount of chances, still without Thapelo Morena and Lucas Ribeiro, you know how important they are for us. But the boys did their best and were so proud of the players representing the club; with everything they had in every match, they gave their all.“

No Room for Self-Pity

While acknowledging the disappointment of the penalty shootout loss, Mokwena stressed that there is no time for self-pity.

He stated that the team would pick themselves up, be strong, and move forward. He said, “We let our supporters down, we let our club down, we feel it, we apologize for that, but we march on, and the universe has no budget for pity parties; there’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves.“

Looking Ahead

Sundowns’ next challenge is against Moroka Swallows in the DStv Premiership after the FIFA International break.

Mokwena expressed the team’s determination to bounce back and continue their pursuit of success in the upcoming games.

He concluded, “We have to pick ourselves up, be strong, and go forward. We have a lot of trophies to play for, a lot of games to win, and we’ll bounce back.“

“Sundowns Resuming Action in DStv Premiership Against Moroka Swallows After Two-Week FIFA International Break”