Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has tried to explain his side’s stuttering form in the DStv Premiership after they picked up their fourth draw since being confirmed as champions.
Mokwena saw a two-goal lead wiped off by AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday night, saying they are paying the price of being spoiled for choice in having quality players and giving several players in their squad a chance to get game-time.
The Sundowns coach said that affects the fluidity of the team, especially now that he’s giving everyone a chance to play, having won the league with seven games to go.
Sundowns took a two-goal lead through Bongani Zungu, with Gaston Sirino finding the former Bafana Bafana midfielder in the first half, with Zungu scoring his first league goal at Sundowns since September 2013, equivalent to 10 years ago.
Then Peter Shalulile plundered the second in the second half, to net his 12th league goal of the season. By that time, it seemed like there was no way back for Usuthu and one usual outcome for Sundowns.
But the home side found their second wind, with Ramahlwe Mphahlele pulling one back before Junior Dion scoring a screamer late on to make it two for Usuthu, leaving the crowd jumping for joy.
“It is a difficult period for us because mentally, to win the league with seven games to go, it’s tough,” Mokwena said after the game.
“Everybody expects to be at the top level. You are also trying to win over minutes, academy graduates like you say. Ntando Nkosi was good, Gaston [Sirino] was good and he got good minutes, Thabiso Kutumela got some minutes, Terrence Mashego got some good minutes, Rushine de Reuck got some good minutes.
“It was the same with Zungu and he scored. So you can’t have it all in football. The problem is, when you are spoiled, you are that kid that wants to buy all the toys in the shop.
“You can’t buy all of them, there are other kids that must also get them. Life is about that and in fact, life and football are the same. You give and you take, you can’t take all of it. You have got to give some and that’s why you win some and you lose some, it’s life.”
Out of their last five league games, they have now drawn four and collected just one win – a 1-0 against Richards Bay.
Despite the series of draws, Sundowns, who are on 66 points after 28 matches, still have a chance to break their record points tally of 71 points, which they earned in the 2015/16 but they must now win their two remaining two matches against Marumo Gallants and Maritzburg United.
