Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango is relishing the opportunity to play once again in an MTN8 final when they face Cape Town City.
Masandawana, runners up in 2016, will be looking to clinch the MTN8 trophy for the first time when they battle the Citizens later in Durban at Moses Mabhida Stadium at 18:00. When Sundowns last won the super eight competition in 2007, it was still the SAA Super Eight cup.
The Ugandan international says they know it will be do or die in the field of play, but they are ready for whatever they will come across.
“Looking at the MTN8 Final and the trophy itself, it’s the one trophy that we haven’t won as a club and for me personally, I am looking forward to this final,” he told club’s media department.
“I’ve been to the final before, and we lost, but I believe that the way that we have prepared and the momentum that the team has at the moment gives us the upper hand, but of course we have to work extremely hard and try to win against a very hard-working, tactical and talented team that is Cape Town City.
“Looking at the way that the guys are really hungry for this trophy, we should be able to win it, but we are required to stay focus and give it our best shot, we believe that this is the chance that we have to lift the MTN8 trophy with the hard work that we have to put on and with the support that we are getting from the technical team and the supporters.
“I’ve been in the MTN8 Final, the previous one was against Bidvest Wits, and it didn’t go well, we lost that game. We put in a lot of effort, but we didn’t win the trophy, but this time around I think we also have a very good record at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“Most of the cup finals that we have played at that stadium we’ve managed to win, and I strongly believe that luck will be on our side to win this final at Moses Mabhida.
“At the end of the day only one has to come out as winners, we believe and hope that we are coming out as winners against Cape Town City. By working hard and focusing on the game it will be easier for us to win this trophy, not just because we are playing at Moses Mabhida, and we have a good history, but also knowing that we have to give it our best shot.”
Onyango says that they respect Cape Town City as they once lifted the trophy, but feels everything will be proven on the field.
“Everyone believes that Cape Town City are probably the underdogs because we are bigger, but on the field it is 11 vs 11, the team that works hard and takes their chances is the team that wins,” he continued.
“For us, we take every game as a Cup final, we do not choose teams in terms of who is bigger or is smaller, good or bad, we give it our best shot and that is the mentality of the players, the technical team and the club. We just approach every game in a positive way, we must also approach the game knowing that the opposition is not weak as we look at every opposition as a strong side, and we do not undermine anyone.
“I think the mentality will be right from us and the team to know that we are playing a very good quality team, we should give our best because for them to get to the final it was never a fluke, they managed to come to Joburg and win against Swallows FC with a big score, we can not undermine them.”
