Cupido On Short Pre-Season And Sundowns Ambition

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Keanu Cupido says they want to win the MTN8 title to start the 2025/26 season.

Cupido, 27, featured in only four games after his arrival at the club from Cape Town City which included only 17 minutes of league action but went on to start all three games at the FIFA Club World Cup, impressing alongside Grant Kekana.

• ALSO READ: Thlopie’s Message To Sundowns Fans
• How Much Prize Money Ribeiro Got At PSL Awards

Their extended season meant Sundowns had a break and started pre-season later than their domestic rivals, but the centre-back says it won’t be an issue.

“For us the rest was more important than training because if we had to train, most of the players would have broken down, the rest was very important, spending time with family as well and for us to be in these two weeks of pre-season, it’s not much difference,” he said.

“We have to continue where we left off from the Club World Cup. Add a few things in our game to make us stronger as well, we didn’t need a long pre-season, there’s not many new faces in our team, only one new player that came in, so it’s just a continuation.”

Sundowns have notoriously been sluggish starters in the season, winning the MTN8 twice in 25 years, despite their dominance on the domestic scene with eight consecutive league titles now.

Cupido, won this title in the 2017/18 season with the relegated Citizens, the club he was secured from in the January window, and he admits the discussions in the camp to secure this first piece of silverware on offer.

“We spoke about it, in the camp, we spoke about the first game [against Richards Bay] is very important, it sets the tone for the whole season going forward,” he stated.

“If we can get this trophy, it will lift the players, the mood in camp and confidence. So, we feel like we want to win this trophy as well.”

Sundowns open their campaign at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday against Richards Bay (18h00).