Rulani Mokwena: Mamelodi Sundowns can't shy away from treble talk

Sundowns face Stellies at the Danie Craven Stadium, having already won the inaugural African Football League and clinched their record-extending seventh DStv Premiership title in a row this past week.

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While many would shy away from the perceived pressure of talking up their chances of success, Mokwena says The Brazilians are duty bound to aim for the treble.

"Is it possible to win the treble? Yes it is. And because it is possible, why should we shy away from speaking about it? Sometimes you shy away from speaking about goals or ambitions because you're afraid of failure," said Mokwena.

"But what failure represents is just the mere opportunity to step back up and dust yourself off, and say, 'I want to learn from this experience and get better and better.'

"Maybe next time, when you're faced with something of a similar experience, you've now got the benefit of having gone through this thing and having overcome.

"We are not afraid of failing, and that's why we are not afraid of setting high standards for ourselves. Because, if we don't set high standards for ourselves when we achieve just the bare minimum, it goes against the culture and expectations of this football club.

"So we try our level best every single day, to give the best that we can – each and every single one of us – to improve and to make sure that we leave the jersey better than we found it."

Today’s clash will be between two of the in-form teams in the league, with Sundowns unbeaten in 48 league matches, while Stellies are on a remarkable 25-match unbeaten run themselves this season.

"We know they're a very good side, they're on a very good run of form, and they are extremely consistent, with the only thing perhaps in goals," Mokwena added.

"Against [Golden] Arrows, it was Sage Stephens, but you've also seen in some of the cup games, they've played Masuluke, but the back-four is quite consistent.

"And then, of course, everything [in attack] is in and around Iqraam Rayners, and because of the run they are in, they play with a sense of invincibility, which is very important when you come into games like this.

"So we've got to be ready for what is going to be a very difficult game at a very difficult stadium too."

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