Just from winning the CAF Champions League, Anthony Laffor’s Mamelodi Sundowns revealed a thirst for more silverware by reaching the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout competition.
The Sundowns beat Polokwane City 2-0, pushing Laffor closer to his second title in the knockout competition that is held among teams in South Africa’s premier league. Second half goals from Hlompho Kekana and Themba Zwane were enough to seal a victory for the Brazilians in their first match after being crowned African champions.
Arriving in South Africa within less than 48 hours after leaving Egypt, Sundowns’ coach Pitso Mosimane made five changes from his starting team before the encounter.
Both teams played to a scoreless draw in the first half before the Sundowns returned to prove supremacy in the remaining 45 minutes of the match. The Sundowns, who are the defending champions of the Telkom Knockout, broke the deadlock in the 65th minute through Kekana’s goal, scored from a shot taken within Polokwane’s penalty area.
The goal boosted the Sundowns’ confidence, as they took control of the encounter. Five minutes after taking the lead, they got their second goal through Zwane who scored from a Thapelo Morena assist.
Polokwane, the visitors, failed to pull a goal back until the final whistle, sending the Sundowns into the Telkom quarterfinals. They will now face Laffor’s former club, Supersports United. Laffor, who played for United between 2008 and 2012 and won the South African ABSA Premiership twice, expects the upcoming match to be a difficult one.
“We are grateful to reach the Telkom quarterfinals,†he told The Bush Chicken. “Winning against Polokwane wasn’t an easy task. Taking into consideration the schedule of the game, it was a tough match, but we managed to win. Now, we face Supersports in the next stage. To be honest, I’m expecting a difficult match. They have a good team and strong enough to play against any team.â€
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.
