Despite Mamelodi Sundowns’ impressive 31-match unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership, coach Rulani Mokwena believes that the standard of the league has improved significantly.
Sundowns extended their unbeaten run in the Premiership to 31 matches on Wednesday night. This was after they edged Orlando Pirates 1-0 at Orlando Stadium in the midweek encounter.
A solitary penalty from the in-form Lucas Ribeiro also saw Sundowns win their seventh game of the new season.
They are yet to drop points as the Tshwane giants have won all their matches.
And with Sundowns continuing their dominance in SA’s top flight as they look to defend their league title for the eighth time in a row, Mokwena believes the standards in the league have improved.
He stated that his players work hard and make football look easy. The 36-year-old mentor insists that his men don’t get enough credit and the praise they deserve.
RULANI ON THE COMPETITIVE OF THE PREMIERSHIP
“I think the Premiership is very competitive,” said Rulani Mokwena. “If you see the results. I mean every single day, you’ve got surprises, and it is not easy to win games in the league.
“That’s why I see this team is not given the credit that it deserves. Because to have this mentality and consistency is not easy.
And also always trying to improve our game the way we play.
“We changed quite a lot of things, and we try to be a little bit more unpredictable this season, but we’ve been asked a lot of very different questions by different teams.
OTHER SOCCER NEWS:Given Msimango’s promise to Kaizer Chiefs fans
“There are teams that have come very aggressively at us with high pressure, and we’ve had to find solutions by not moving too far away from our ideas about the game; even under the most pressure.
“There are teams that have sat in and defended low. Teams that have done a little bit of both and sometimes in phases. And there are teams that have been extremely physical against us, extremely,” added Mokwena.
Mamelodi Sundowns will now turn their attention to the MTN8 semifinals where they are set to face Kaizer Chiefs in the return leg on Saturday in Tshwane.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.