Rulani Mokwena explains Mamelodi Sundowns' friendly vs Vipers SC

The Brazilians face Golden Arrows in the DStv Premiership at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday night, and players omitted from that squad along with those unused from the bench will feature against the Uganda Premier League side on Wednesday. 

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Sundowns will be involved in six different competitions, including four domestically as well as the African Super League and the CAF Champions League this season. 

Mokwena revealed Vipers, in fact, reached out the them while he explained their reason for accepting is that it’s crucial to get all the players as close to being on the same level as possible. 

"Ja, they requested a friendly and we were just in need for some legs and minutes for some of the players that are part of [the squad] – we have a very big squad," explained Mokwena.

"Sometimes, when we keep playing every three days without training, the group that's sitting on the bench and not getting minutes on the pitch in competitive games stays too far behind – it's a mistake we made last season.

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"So, without this [non-playing] group staying and putting pressure on the group that's playing, sometimes this group doesn't even improve.

"So, you've got to have competitive minutes so that when you do have these matchday minus-two and matchday minus-one sessions, they have the legs and intensity to make this [playing] team still get better.

"So, that's really the only reason behind [the Vipers friendly], it's nothing special."