Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has insisted he would also love to score seven goals in games like Orlando Pirates in their recent hammering of Golden Arrows but teams opt to play low-blocks against them, resulting in narrow wins.
Sundowns extended their lead at the top of the DStv Premiership log to 13 points after their 1-0 win over Cape Town Spurs thanks to a converted penalty by Lucas Ribeiro.
Over large parts, the defending DStv Premiership champions controlled the game but couldn’t break Spurs defence.
After the match, a frustrated Mokwena wished that teams could play openly against Sundowns, making an example of how Golden Arrows played against Orlando Pirates in a match that produced eight goals, with Pirates winning by 7-1.
“It’s very tough, I was saying to the players at half-time, I wish someone can play like Golden Arrows playing against Pirates, so open. [But] no-one plays against us like that and give us a chance to score seven or eight goals. Nobody does it,” Mokwena told iDiski Times.
“But okay, this is what we have to get used to, suffer against low block, suffer against counter-attacks.
“You saw how difficult it was against Richards Bay with Sanele Barns, you saw how difficult it was against [Yanga’s] Aziz Ki and Musonda, you saw how difficult it was against Cupido, Velebayi even in the second half the ball is behind because you give them space, you have to squeeze the game, you have to take a lot of risks and when you take a risk, you’re little bit open.
“You’ve got to be able to hurt the opponent on the counter-attack, which we are not strong with, to be honest. So it is very tough, but we are training it, we have to get used to it. It’s coming with the profile of the team we’ve developed.
“It’s just to continue working and also get a bit of confidence because at the moment with a long streak where Peter is not scoring, Lucas is not scoring, and Mshishi is not scoring it plays on their mind and then you will lack a bit of confidence at the moment. But I think it’s a phase that every team goes through.
“As I said I have to compliment my players, even in the difficult moments they remain focussed and they can see the game through. So I’m very proud of them for that.”
