Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: USMA coach surprised with Mokoena, Williams start & Cardoso reacts

Latest Mamelodi Sundowns news, including USM Alger coach Lamine N’ Diaye’s surprise to see Teboho Mokoena and Ronwen Williams start and Miguel Cardoso’s reaction to the CAF Super Cup defeat.

Latest Mamelodi Sundowns News

USMA coach surprised to see Mokoena and Williams

US Alger coach Lamine N’ Diaye has expressed his surprise at seeing both Teboho Mokoena and Ronwen Williams start for Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mokoena had missed four matches while Williams was absent for three due to injuries but they made the starting XI as Sundowns faced USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup on Sunday.

They had little impact, however, as Miguel Cardoso’s men lost 3-1 to miss out on the trophy and N’ Diaye admits he prepared his team knowing the two would not play.

“I was surprised because it has been three games that Ronwen Williams did not play and Mokoena as well but I believe they are very important for their clubs so they wanted them in but of course they were not 100 per cent,” said Lamine N’ Diaye

“I was surprised but we tried to play them with what we had and gave our best and it worked for us.”

Cardoso struggles to find answers

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has weighed in on what led to his team’s big loss in the CAF Super Cup to USM Alger.

The Algerian side were efficient at Loftus Versfeld, stunning Sundowns in front of their fans, and Cardoso was left scratching his head for answers.

 “We made mistakes that were penalised by goals, there wasn’t much actions from USMA, the difference was the level of profit they had from what they created, compared to what we didn’t take from what we created,” he said.

“When I saw the conditions of the pitch in the second half, I knew it would be tough for us, it was not easy to play [with the rain], it was catastrophic, but it’s not excuses. I think we had bad luck to get the sparkle to get us back in the match.

“We then went down by two goals on counter attack and then there’s the emotions that follow, we tried, we knew USMA had character as a North African team – it became tricky, congratulations to USMA, the players and the club.”

What next for Mamelodi Sundowns?

Looking ahead, Cardoso feels it is time to turn their attention to what is coming up next and not dwell on what has happened already.

“There’s always something to learn from negatives, I don’t see another way forward, we wanted to win this,” he added as per iDiski Times.

“You remember the match I played here a few years ago [with Esperance], Sundowns dominated, and then there was the rain that delayed, and it was not conditions for Sundowns to show the best they have.

“Results like this bring you down to the floor, but only one way to react, we have challenges in the short-term, that’s how big teams get out of it. It’s not disaster or catastrophe, there’s no losers in this. I won’t say who was the better team.”