Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Thlopie Motsepe has applauded the rivalry with Orlando Pirates with the two sides in a two-horse race for the Betway Premiership title.
There has been lots of criticism in the previous months from Sundowns supporters calling for the sacking of head coach Miguel Cardoso after Sundowns were eliminated from MTN8 final, Carling Knockout last 16 and Nedbank Cup last 16.
Despite the setback, Sundowns managed to sneak into the CAF Champions League quarterfinals where they will face Mali side Stade Malien de Bamako.
In as much as they would have loved to win every trophy that is on offer in South Africa, Sundowns have two major trophies left to fight for and Motsepe admitted that those trophies would mean a lot to the club to win them also stated that the league title race is helping Sundowns in preparing them for the African continent.
“The league campaign is one of the most important cups that we strive for every season. And being defending champions, there’s an intense amount of pride that we draw from that, and it also makes sure that we go to every single game this season with the right type of determination and commitment to see it through,” Motsepe told the media.
“Talking of the league, I think it’s, it’s great that we have such a neck-and-neck title campaign. I think our competitors deserve a lot of credit. A lot of the teams actually this season deserve a lot of credit, because from number one all the way to number eight. It’s not such a steep sort of decline.
“You can see the competition, and they help us be better. When we went to the Champions League final last season, it was because our competitors, Orlando Pirates, were there with us. They were in the semifinals, and they also had a very strong campaign. So, I think we are in a competition, rivalry only makes it better for those who are watching the rivalry that competitors themselves.
“The greatest rivalries in sports are usually between two iconic people who have reached these levels, and that’s what they’re doing with us right now. So, it’s incredibly exciting in terms of the Champions League, of course, that is still our holy grail. It’s what we always try to go for. Every season, we’re excited about how the team seems to have turned a corner and has clicked into another gear.
“A lot of players, in terms of senior players, have really pulled the team together and stood up and have done such an incredible job in terms of leadership and integrating other players. And then, of course, in terms of our coach and our technical leadership.
“There, you also have people who have been there before, been to the final, and as we get into these stages now, you start to see more trust in the group, a little bit more confidence. But with that confidence comes a determination and a quiet resilience that we’re going to start showing more and more.”
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