Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema and head coach Rulani Mokwena says their stunning set-piece routine comes straight from the training ground.
Sundowns secured a record ninth consecutive win to start a new season with Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro Costa both finding the net in the first half.
But it was the Brazilian’s goal that got tongues wagging when Neo Maema, who was walking away from the ball, went on to show finesse by running back, chipping it over the wall for Costa to control and finish it with a stunning volley.
“It’s thing we do at training and coach said if we have the confidence to actually execute it when it comes, why not [do it], so today it works for us, so in the next games we’ll try the other ones we have,” he told SuperSport TV after the game.
Mokwena revealed it was in fact an idea he brought to the technical team and squad – which was well received before being implemented boldly in the Tshwane Derby.
“I don’t like taking credit for things, but ya… you can have the ideas, it comes as an idea but it’s the execution of the players so I wanna congratulate the players for that,” Mokwena said about Costa’s goal.
“I also wanna congratulate my technical team, when I came with it, it got their support, especially the set-piece coaches, Michael [Loftman] and Wendell [Robinson], they supported it and worked, and it was good to see it came off.”
Sundowns now travel to DR Congo where they face Linafoot giants TP Mazembe in their second CAF Champions League group stage game this weekend.
