Umqeqeshi weMamelodi Sundowns, uPitso Mosimane, woneke izandla namhlanje emva komdlalo – uphawu olubonisa ukuncama. Ekupheleni komdlalo uthe iqela lakhe lenze konke okufanelekile – kodwa ibhola ayivumanga ukungena emnatheni. UPitso ukutsho oku emva kokuba iDowns ibambene ngeqanda (0-0) neBloemfontein Celtic kumdlalo we-Absa Premier Soccer League obuseLucas Moripe Stadium kobu busuku banamhlanje.

Ukungaphumeleli kweSundowns kuthetha ukuthi ayikwazanga ukuphumelela nomnye kwimidlalo (yePSL) emihlanu yonke edlulileyo. Ngokwenza njalo iSundowns ilahlekelwa ngamathuba okuvala umsantsa ngokukhawuleza ophakathi kwayo namaqela afana neCape Town City, iKaizer Chiefs neBidvest Wits akhuphisanayo phezuli kwiPSL. Ngoku iiBrazilians zihleli kwindawo yesihlanu, zinamanqaku angamashumi amathathu anesihlanu.

Okucacileyo kula mdlalo kukuba iCeltic iye izixelele into inye: ukuba ayizukubethwa yiSundowns. Umdlalo wayo ubudiza lo nto ngoba ibivalile emva futhi ayikwazanga ukudala amathuba alinganayo naweSundowns. Ukufumana kwayo inqaku elinye iCeltic kuyinika ithuba lokubhekela kancinci kumaqela alwela ukuphepha izembe okanye ukuthotyiselwa ekupheleni kwale isizini.

UKhama Billiat, uLeonardo Castro, uHlompho Kekana noThemba Zwane akukho cebo bangalenzanga emdlalweni – kodwa ibhola ayivumanga ukungena emnatheni. Ekuzeni kuphela komdlalo, umdlali wasemva weCeltic unqande ibhola seyingena. Nangona into yokungayiphumeleli le midlalo inayo iSundowns – kodwa uJingles uthi akasoli mntu. Iqela lakhe liyaziwa elikwenzileyo kwezi nyanga zisibhozo ezidlulileyo.

Tshegofatso Mabaso of Bloemfontein Celtic challenged by Ricardo Nascimento of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Absa Premiership 2016/17 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville South Africa on 05 April 2017 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

“Kwenzeke le nto nangokuya besidlala neKaizer Chiefs, akukho nto ndinoyenza mna,” utshilo uPitso epheca izandla.

“Ukuba ungazikhathaza ngokwasemphefumlweni ngale into, soze ukwazi ukucinga kakuhle. Eli liqela elomeleleyo endilakhileyo. Ziintshatsheli ze-Afrika nalapha eMzantsi Afrika. Ibhola ayivumi ukungena emnatheni. Kufuneka sibe nomonde qha. Ungagxeka ukuba awuqiqi – kodwa okusalayo ndineqela elomeleleyo futhi ndiyawazi amandla walo,” utshilo uPitso.

Amasandawana asengxakini ngenxa yokwenzakala kwabadlali abaliqela nemidlalo emininzi exineneyo kule nyanga. NgoMgqibelo, iDowns yamkela iGolden Arrows kumdlalo weNedbank Cup ozakube useLucas Moripe Stadium ngo’15:00.

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Morena, Soumahoro, Nascimento, Langerman, Kekana, Mabunda (Modise 45′), T.Zwane, Billiat, Tau, Castro.

Blomfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Mahlasela, Rikhotso, Ndengane, Lakay, Dube, Letlabika, Mxoyana, Hotto, Phalane, Mabasa.