Polokwane City out to spring a surprise in Sundowns clash

POLOKWANE City captain Cole Alexander says they are comfortable with their overwhelming underdogs tag as they head into Sunday’s MTN8 quarter-final clash with Mamelodi Sundowns.

The teams clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium (3pm start) looking to progress to the semi-finals of the season-opening competition that now carries a massive R10 million winner’s cheque.

Speaking after the club’s training session at the rugby fields between the two Peter Mokaba Stadiums in Polokwane on Wednesday, Alexander said they are going to use that status as a motivating factor.

“Ja, I think so (it is good to be underdogs) because – and that’s what our players need to know – we shouldn’t put unnecessary pressure on ourselves,” he said.

“Look, we have done well to achieve to play in this prestigious tournament.

“I am sure the whole country thinks Sundowns, it (the match) should be a walk in the park for them. We shouldn’t add unnecessary pressure on ourselves as the expectations ... 99 percent, it’s Sundowns beating us.

“So, I think we can use it as motivation to surprise the country, surprise many. We must play from that place where people think we are underdogs, we are counted out. We must play from a place where we can give our all.”

Alexander added that Polokwane are a team who do not do half measures.

“If there’s one thing about our identity, it is giving everything on the field. The guys put everything on the field – that’s our strength: our players put everything on the field.”

He admitted, though, that they are up against it playing against continental giants like the Brazilians.

“Sundowns is a great team, one of the best in Africa, if not the best. It is certainly not going to be easy, but we can take the confidence from there, from the fact that we have previously done well against them – and together, we can try to prepare as best as possible for the match.”

City coach Phuti Mehafe said they are looking to improve on their best showing in the competition by going all the way to the final.

“As an ambitious team, we are a team that are looking to make the progress and break the record,” he said.

“This tournament has been eluding us. We have been qualifying for it, and we just want to go one step forward, and that step forward should be in the final.

“We need progress and we need improvement as a team, and that’s what we are looking for.”

Though eager to reach the final, he has been having sleepless nights trying to figure out what his opponents are going to bring to the match, given the technical changes that have happened at Sundowns.

“That has been the headache for us because you know coach Manqoba (Mngqithi) plays a different way, coach Steve (Komphela) plays a different way, and coach (Romain) Folz plays a different way to the way (former) coach Rulani (Mokwena) was playing.

“So, the combination of the three, with their different philosophies, is going to create a headache for us.

“But that does not mean we are going there to be walloped. We are going there to fight, and the spirit is okay and the players are ready for the match on Sunday.”