Hard work is the key for Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns’ impressive run has come at a cost.
|||Mamelodi Sundowns’ impressive run has come at a cost.
Forget billionaire owner Patrice Motsepe’s fat cheque book. Sundowns players are putting in the hours. Like yesterday, they clocked in at 8am and they were only dispersing at 3pm.
“At Sundowns we work hard,” said left-back Tebogo Langerman.
After three hours going through their paces under Pitso Mosimane’s watchful eye, Langerman and his teammates have to spend even more hours dissecting their next opponents.
“It’s strenuous but there’s nothing we can do because it’s helping us.
“People think we come in, train and leave. They don’t know that we spend the whole day here,” said Langerman, whose side had gone on 14 matches unbeaten in all competitions.
“The thing that works for us is hard work.”
“As you can see we do video analysis, we spend a lot of time here analysing our opponents. That’s why when we go to games it becomes easy for us.
“That’s why we are winning games.”
Chances are yesterday the Brazilians were watching the famous Jeremy Brockie movie as they prepare to face their rivals SuperSport United in the Tshwane Derby on Saturday, where the New Zealand striker is set to lead Matsatsantsa a Pitori’s attack. Sundowns are at the top of the Absa Premiership table while SuperSport are 10th. If the standings are anything to go by, Sundowns should easily away with maximum points since they appear stronger than Gordon Igesund’s men.
Langerman, a former SuperSport player, says both teams have similar strengths with the difference being that Mosimane’s men knuckle down.
“It’s not that Sundowns is stronger than SuperSport. At Sundowns we work harder and we make sure we take our chances. We score early - that’s why we win most games because we score first,” said Langerman.
The 29-year-old is surprised that his former team has battled to do well despite boasting a good coach and top players.
“I don’t think they are playing bad football. It’s just that they have been letting in too many goals. They are not an easy team to beat. They play attractive football. I don’t know why they concede. Some of the goals are just mistakes,” said Langerman.
“It’s surprising, especially when you look at the players they have.” - The Star