Ahead of their MTN8 semi-final second leg against Mamelodi Sundowns, Golden Arrows head coach Lehlohonolo Seema doesn’t agree with the sentiment that their opponents are unbeatable and running away with things already.
The DStv Premiership champions, who have won the league four times in row, are currently already sitting top of the league after 5 games.
But while they Sundowns had an excellent start to the season, Seema says it’s too early to say they’re unbeatable, and there have been some close matches so far.
He feels if a team takes their chances and defends well, there’s no reason not to believe you can beat them.
Arrows are one of the team who have held Sundowns to a draw this season, with the first leg in Durban finishing 1-1, and Arrows led that match for over an hour. Sundowns also drew against Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 quarter-final, though advanced in a penalty shootout, while Chippa United held them to a goalless draw in the league.
“I think each and every team when they are facing an opponent, they are expecting to win the match,” Seema said at the pre-match press conference.
“And it’s on the day how you apply yourselves and how the opponents apply themselves.
“And it will be suicidal for us to go to the match saying that no, we just going there to honour the game. I don’t think they are unbeatable.
“I think as long as they are competing with 11 v 11, Sundowns they have their moment where they are defending, you will see that okay maybe the opponent did not have a little bit of luck.
“And if luck is on your side on the day, you can convert chances. And once you convert chances, let’s see how Sundowns will react.
“I think it’s too early for me to say Sundowns can be unbeatable. I think they still gonna get a lot of challenges, and teams will still try to compete against them.
“And ja, I think you one or two surprises might come. And maybe other teams, they can take a leaf from that book, but I don’t think it’s really, really clear that we can say no, they are running out, and then they can beat everyone, and I don’t see them losing any game, because teams that played with Sundowns, some games, they are very close, and you could see that it is a marginal cause, if you’re not concentrated, they’ll punish you.
“So imagine if you concentrated fully, and then you use your chances?
“So I think there’s still going to be battles with our teams, and at the moment, I can’t say no, I think they are running away with it… yet.”
