Rulani Mokwena questions logic behind scheduling cup tie within FIFA break

Sundowns were without seven Bafana Bafana players when they were eliminated via penalties at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night, a day after the national team faced Ivory Coast in Abidjan.

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The fixture was brought forward to accommodate Downs’ participation in the inaugural African Football League this weekend, but that didn’t stop Mokwena from being vocal about his displeasure.

"Which team gets to play the next day after the national team played and has five players in the starting lineup and then plays the next day? Which team? We're the first team to do that but no one will care. The blame will be on the coach and that's the job I chose and that's the responsibility that I should take," Mokwena said.

The depleted Sundowns squad did show resilience to claw their way back after conceding two early goals, and with the score level, it forced the match into extra time. But the result means the Brazilians have been knocked out of two cup competitions in just over a week having lost to Orlando Pirates in the final of the MTN8 recently.

Mokwena says it comes with the territory.

"No, that's life, that's football, you win some, you lose some and you lose more than you win. When we've been winning and going for 365 days without a defeat, we’ve been happy and we've been the best coaches and the best players in the world. So, when we lose then we become the worst coaches and the worst players in the world. So, it's how the cookie crumbles," Mokwena added.

Sundowns’ fight back was made harder by midfielder Bongani Zungu’s red card in the 58th minute following a gruesome tackle on Galaxy striker Bernard Parker.

The Downs coach wished Parker well in his journey to be on the mend. 

"I can only wish Bernard Parker a speedy recovery, I hope it's not as serious as it looks. Knowing Bongani Zungu, I know it was not malicious and there was no malicious intent behind it. The only thing that I can say on it is that I wish Bernard Parker a speedy recovery."