How Mpheni chairman plans downfall of his favourite club Sundowns
Despite being a staunch Mamelodi Sundowns supporter since 1993, Mpheni Defenders chairman and coach Sydwell Phuravhathu has explained how he plans to beat the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup on Sunday.
The SAFA Limpopo ABC Motsepe League side will take on Masandawana at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria in the Last 16. They are the only amateur side at this stage of the competition.
Mpheni are making their second appearance in the Nedbank tournament after reaching the Last 16 in 2022. The club was eliminated by Betway Premiership side Chippa United.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FANS SYDWELL PHURAVHATHU AIMS TO CAUSE A BIG UPSET
Phuravhathu acknowledged his professional responsibility on Sunday, stating that he must set his personal feelings aside. While he didn’t detail a specific tactical plan, he emphasised the importance of mental preparation for his players. His focus is on ensuring his amateur team is mentally ready for the challenge against Sundowns and not intimidated by either the opposition or the occasion.
“We are going to play Mamelodi Sundowns, which is the team that I have supported since my childhood in 1993,” he told FARPost.
“But myself, as a coach, I am going to do my work and make sure we upset them. It’s possible. We are also not worried that everyone has ruled us out and said it will be a walkover.
“This is about work. Even yourself [the reporter], you have a team that you support. But when you conduct interviews, you do your work. You can’t say I can’t interview Kaizer Chiefs, for example, because that’s your team. You have to do your job. So we must all go do our job.”
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“It’s high time that we prepare ourselves mentally and not be afraid,” continued Phuravhathu.
“We should be fearless when we play against Mamelodi Sundowns. They are already favourites when they play against their peers in the PSL. They are also favourites when they play in the [CAF] Champions League. So imagine us coming from the third-tier league. For us, the stage is to showcase our talent and enjoy the occasion.
“When you go to war, you must be prepared for anything. Not everyone will be on your side when you go to war. So, you need to prove a case or to prove them wrong. It’s history on its own that we are playing Sundowns in the Last 16.”
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