Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena says keeping a clean sheet against Swallows FC was a true reflection of the team’s performance.
The Brazilians stretched their unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership to 19 matches following their goalless draw at the Dobsonville Stadium this past weekend.
Sundowns will be hoping to bounce back when they take on Golden Arrows in their next league encounter at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Although Mokwena was satisfied with a clean sheet and his sides performance on the day, the Sundowns coach bemoaned their missed chances in the final third that would’ve secure them maximum points.
“I am very proud of the efforts of the players [and] the spirit in the squad. The recovering of the players is so nice to see, [with the likes of Abubeker] Nasir, [Bongani] Zungu, Gaston [Sirino] after such a long time on the pitch [as well as Abdoul Boutouil] AB and Thapelo [Morena] also,” Mokwena told his club’s official website.
“We have to play these games and we have to also try to make sure the squad is close to each other. [I am] very proud of the players [and] a gallant effort from the opposition.
“Keeping clean sheets is also a reflection of the team, today we defended a lot better. Even against Cape Town City I thought we defended very well from the top and then sometimes [just like] today they don’t play from the back, they go route one to the striker.
“Even on transition they win the ball and go to the the striker, they have Gregory Damons and Tshediso Patjie running into the channel so we had to be very, very strong in the duels [especially] one on ones, we had to be very strong on the counter pressures from the top once we lost the ball and we were very, very good.
“Individual awards are always a reflection of the collective, and as I say when we score it’s because we have a very good build up. When we defend well and when we keep clean sheets it’s because we defend very well from the top and the game is about boxes.
“Modern football is all about boxes, what you do on one side and what you do on the other side affects what happens on the other side. It’s always a collective effort. Congratulations to the team for those miniature types of achievements and milestones because it’s always a reflection of a collective.”
Photo by Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
