Johannesburg - Mamelodi Sundowns will not take chances when they take on National First Division side Mbombela United in a Nedbank Cup clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
The Tshwane giants will tread warily, knowing that NFD sides can provide banana-skin experiences for top level clubs. In the last round, Sundowns were made to sweat for an extra time victory over Highlands Park, also a NFD side. In the end, it was the grit that they were able to show that saw them over the line
The side from Mpumalanga will relish the experience of playing against the log-leaders in the PSL. They are contesting promotion for next season, and have given as good as they received in their campaign.
But for a relatively poor start to their season, they could have been right up there with leaders Baroka FC. In their last Nedbank clash, they dispatched Sibanye Golden Stars, scoring four goals without response with Bongani Ndlhovu putting in a man-of-match performance.
But it was the goalscoring prowess of Isaac Nana, who scored a brace, that Sundowns will have to keep a watch over. The danger of lower division sides is that they come into these games knowing that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
While Brazillians have been on the Fifa break, they are content that many of their players have been in action for their national teams.
Anthony Laffor, Mogakolodi Ngele, Keagan Dolly, Hlompho Kekana, Denis Onyango, Kennedy Mweene, and Khama Billiat have come off playing two tough clashes in the Afcon qualifiers, while the technical team has kept the rest of the side busy at home with friendly games and participation in the Gauteng Cup.
While these breaks sometimes affect the rhythm of clubs, coach Pitso Mosimane will have welcomed it as it gave him some breathing space to rejuvenate his side, and reignite the apetite for goals that was missing in their last league clash.
Mosimane and his team have been preparing the team for battles on three fronts - the PSL championship where they are entering the final stretch with seven games to go, the Caf Champions League as they prepare for their next clash against AS Vita, and the Nedbank Cup. - African News Agency (ANA)