Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns host the mighty Orlando Pirates. Everybody knows which players to watch closely.
Confirmed: SABC to show the match
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS’ DEMAND ON LUCAS RIBEIRO
Anybody who watched Sundowns’ 3-0 win over SuperSport United midweek can probably agree that it was Ribeiro’s best-ever performance in a yellow jersey. Speaking to the media before facing Orlando Pirates, Ribeiro’s captain – Ronwen Williams – revealed that they always fight Ribeiro to press the opposition high.
“Special – a special player, a special talent – he’s just special. He brings that Brazilian flare they’re known to have, and besides that he’s also willing to learn,” Williams told journalists at the pre-match conference.
“There are a lot of things the coach and players want for him to do – especially the counter-press, and we always fight with him to do it, and [Wednesday] you saw that. “It’s just key for him to remain humble, calm and just consistent, which he has been since he joined, it’s amazing coming into a different country and just doing it each and every game.”
FACING ORLANDO PIRATES
The Sundowns shot-stopper also touched on the meaning of facing an on-forming Orlando Pirates.
“Both teams have been playing well and doing well, we know this game is won on small margins. If you look at the last few games we’ve played against them, it hasn’t been high scoring, but the football has been of the highest quality.
“And it’s two powerhouses of South African football, who are doing so well in Africa now, so it’s going to be a good game, but it’s going to unite the country [because] this is the game everyone has been looking forward to.
“It’s also come at a perfect time for both teams, who are both playing a good quality brand of football, and when we have to grind out results, both teams know how to do that as well, and they know how to play good football, so it’s going to be a good game,” concluded the Sundowns goalie.
