Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane explained why it’s always difficult for the Brazilians to win the coveted MTN8 trophy.

The 53-year-old coach has already won three Absa Premiership titles, the Nedbank Cup, the Telkom Knockout, the Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup, but is yet to lift the MTN8 trophy.

The Brazilians fell short of lifting the trophy this campaign after they were eliminated from the competition in the quarter-final by Maritzburg United on 13 August 2017.

‘You know what’s the problem with the MTN8? It’s a very difficult cup for us to win, hey,’ Mosimane told the media.

‘You must know, we are the last ones to stop [finishing the season] because we are playing in Africa. For example, we lost the MTN8 [quarter-finals match] to Maritzburg United [last year] and [their coach] Fadlu Davids told you that they had six weeks to rest and we were seven days back from off-season when we played them.’

He added: ‘Imagine if I focused on that [the MTN8] and bring the players back early and what could have happened now? You get nothing and you don’t even have a guarantee that you will win the MTN8.

‘It’s a very difficult tournament for us; it’s a pre-season tournament. We are not ready then, because we are signing players and we are in between the Champions League, so it always becomes difficult for us. We are never really fit [for the MTN8] and you will see again this year.’

Mamelodi Sundowns will now turn their focus to their second Caf Champions League Group C encounter against Horoya on 22 May, with kick-off set for 6pm.