The plan was to kill the match as a contest and then allow Mamelodi Sundowns players to run rings around their Orlando Pirates opponents.
This is exactly what happened when the Brazilians humiliated the Buccaneers 4-1 in a Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Thursday evening to set up a semi-final tie against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Sunday.
Peter Shalulile, Themba Zwane, Lesedi Kapinga and Hlompho Kekana registered their names on the scoresheet for Sundowns while Tshegofatso Mabasa netted for Pirates.
“I think the game came out the way we anticipated it. We knew that if we can press them from the top we can benefit. What was more important was to guard against their transition because they are very dangerous,” Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi said.
The former Lamontville Golden Arrows coach didn’t want to take credit for the win. Instead, he gave credit to his players.
“Credit must be given to our boys. They worked very hard to make sure that they minimised a lot of transitions. If you allow the game to be back and forth you are putting it to be a contest. Once it’s a contest, it’s a game they are comfortable with. We were more composed in our build ups. We frustrated them a lot,” Mngqithi said.
Bucs coach Josef Zinnbauer, meanwhile, admitted that the Brazilians were on top of their game.
“Sundowns was very good. Sundowns are in top shape. The performance from our team was not enough. We were not good enough,” the German said.
Cape Town 10/12/2020:
Pictures Supplied by:Mlondolozi Bolo
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqith; Cape Town bornner (Gugulethu) football who bacame a South African football star Anele Ngcongca 33, was lied to rest today ithe service was in attendence of his family, friends, Mamelodi Sundowns players and officials, Amazulu FC and the football followers in their Mamelodi Sundowns regalia. This all happened in J Zwane church hall in Gugulethu. 
