Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has reacted to his side’s shock defeat in the newly formed Carling Knockout Cup, insisting that nobody cares that the odds were stacked against them.
TS Galaxy took advantage of a Sundowns side missing several key players to dump the Brazilians out of the Carling Cup last 16 with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory at Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night.
Sundowns were without several players, some injured and others returning from Bafana Bafana duty, including Themba Zwane, Khuliso Mudau, Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana and Mothobi Mvala.
The above-mentioned players formed part of the Bafana squad that played in back-to-back international friendlies against Eswatini last Friday and Ivory Coast on Tuesday nightaway in Abidjan.
This gave TS Galaxy an opportunity, and they made the most of it. The match was a stalemate after extra time.
The Brazilians were the favourites to progress to the next round but found themselves 2-0 down in the opening 16 minutes of the game, with goals from Sphiwe Mahlangu and Mlungisi Mbunjana before Marcelo Allende and Gaston Sirino fired back for Sundowns.
Fiacre Ntwari of Galaxy was the hero of the shoot-out with two saves in a game where Bongani Zungu got a red card for breaking Bernard Parker’s leg .
Rulani Mokwena was visibly upset after the match, and he did not mince his words in his post-match interview.
MOKWENA ANNOYED AS SUNDOWNS KNOCKED OUT OF CARLING CUP
“…Let me also take the opportunity to appreciate the Mamelodi Sundowns players for a gallant fight against all odds,” said Mokwena on SuperSport TV.
“We made three big errors, and they cost us a lot. We still fought and showed very good character. I said to them (players) just before the penalties that if they thought I love them 100%, then they must know I love them 200%.
“I’m proud of my players for representing the club and fighting very hard. But it counts for nothing, doesn’t it?
OTHER SOCCER NEWS:R6.6m up for grabs for inaugural Carling Knockout Cup champions
Who cares that you are 2-0 down and you are 10 men? “Who cares that you play the day after and you tell me of any club in the world, any club, I’m waiting, that plays a day after the FIFA break.
“Who cares that you have the Footballer of the Season not here? Who cares that you have the Goalkeeper of the Year not here? Who cares that you don’t have the Defender of the Year? Who cares?
“Everyone will say these are excuses, and people will celebrate our downfall, but that’s okay because, as human beings, we plan, but God decides, and If God decides that we shouldn’t win, then as one of his kids, I will just have to trust in his wisdom.”