UKUKHONYA kweMamelodi Sundowns kwiDStv Premiership kule sizini ka-2023/24 kubukeka kusezandleni ze-Orlando Pirates ukukuqeda njengoba lezi zingqungqulu zizotholana phezulu okwesibili kule sizini, eLoftus Versfeld Stadium, ePitoli, ngoMgqibelo ngo-8 ebusuku.
Nakuba iPirates yakwazi ukuyigoba iSundowns kowamanqamu eMTN 8 ngo-Okthoba, kodwa leli qembu laseSoweto lisalokhu liqhubekile nokuba wukudla kwenduku kwiSundowns emidlalweni yeligi amasizini elandelana, okungeka-2021/22 neka-2022/23 kuyona yomibili imizuliswano.
Kanti emzuliswaneni wokuqala wale sizini ka-2023/24 ngoSepthemba (ngaphambi kowamanqamu weMTN 8) iSundowns yayithela isibhaxu sika 1-0 iPirates e-Orlando Stadium, eSoweto, njengoba sezidibana kowomzuliswano wesibili ngoMgqibelo, eLoftus.
Ziya kulo mdlalo nje amaSandawane awakayazi induku emidlalweni engu-14 yePremiership asayidlalile kule sizini njengoba lo wangoMgqibelo ayowudlala neBucs kungoka-15 wokusonga umzuliswano wawo wokuqala wesizini.
Kulo mdlalo wangoMgqibelo amaSandawane ayowudlala neZimnyama kubukeka emancane kakhulu amathuba okuthi badlale abadlali bayo abamqoka abebeseqenjini lesizwe iBafana Bafana kwi-Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) muva nje, ngenxa yokulimala kwabanye, nokukhathala.
ISundowns beyimelwe ngabadlali abayishumi kwiBafana Bafana kwi-Afcon, iningi labo abadlalile ukubala noPeter Shalulile obemele iqembu lesizwe laseNamibia, ngaphandle kukaTerrence Mashego ongadlalanga waze waphela umqhudelwano, nokumbeka ethubeni lokudlala emdlalweni wangoMgqibelo.
Lokhu kubukeka kuyithuba leBucs lokugoba amaSandawane ngenxa yokungabi bikho kwezinye zezethenjwa zayo kulo mdlalo wangoMgqibelo.
“Sikhathazekile ngoMothobi (Mvala), Maseko, Mshishi (Themba Zwane), Teboho (Mokoena) noMudau (Khuliso). Bonke laba badlali kufanele baqale isigaba sokululama, badlulise nengcindezi yokudlala emqhudelwaneni omkhulu kangaka. Sikhathazekile futhi ngoRomza (Ronwen Williams) othinteke ehlombe,” kusho umqeqeshi weSundowns, uRhulani Mokwena ekhuluma nabezindaba ngoLwesine.
Nokho, lo mqeqeshi unethemba lokuthi abadlali ababasayinise ngewindi likaJanuwari sebeyajwayeli futhi bazoletha umfutho odingekayo.
Ngasohlangothini lweZimnyama, abukeka emancane amathuba okuthi adlale umgadli wazo odlale kangcono kakhulu kwi-Afcon muva nje, u-Evidence Makgopa, oyidlale yonke imidlalo kulo mqhudelwano, okubukeka engase aphunyuzwe kulo mdlalo wangoMgqibelo.
Kodwa kubukeka bengase badlale oZakhele Lepasa noNkosinathi Sibisi, boan abangayidlalanga yonke imidlalo kwi-Afcon, noDeon Hotto ezakhe iNamibia eziphume kwiLast 16.