Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has attributed Mamelodi Sundowns’ shock MTN8 defeat to Stellenbosch FC due to the lack of playing many competitive games.
Downs suffered a 1-0 loss on Wednesday night in the MTN8 first-leg semi-final at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, which was just their second competitive match after their quarterfinal clash against Polokwane City.
- ALSO READ: Broos Gives Verdict On Nabi After Meeting Chiefs Coach
- Mngqithi – This Downs Youngster Can Make It Overseas
Stellenbosch on the other hand were playing their fourth official game after their Wafa Wafa last eight tie against TS Galaxy and the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round double-header against Eswatini outfit Nsingizi Hotspurs.
The Belgian mentor identified that lack of competitive matches played a role in Sundowns showing signs of rustiness.
“That’s a problem we have to be honest that’s a problem,” Broos told SABC SPORT.
“Only Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates players who played official games, they played qualifiers of CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
“Those are games you have to win. If you don’t win, you out, and you can’t compare that with friendly games, and maybe this is just a little disadvantage the Sundowns players have.
“You saw it yesterday, in the game against Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch was in the game from the beginning because they already had games.
“This was not Sundowns what we saw yesterday. And the only reason is that they didn’t play enough official games where winning and losing is very important, and that’s a problem. We will see how we manage that.”
Sundowns play away to the Cape Winelands outfit this weekend as they look to overturn the first leg deficit.
The match will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday, 1 September, at 3pm.
