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Rulani: I wish someone can play open against us

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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 17:   Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena during the Nedbank Cup, Last 16 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on March 17, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 17: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena during the Nedbank Cup, Last 16 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on March 17, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena says he wishes teams could open up against his team, so they can also score seven goals after a narrow 1-0 win over Cape Town Spurs.

The Brazilians won by the narrow margin of 1-0 for the second consecutive league game thanks to a first-half penalty scored by Lucas Ribeiro Costa.

"Congratulations to the club, good first half, I was very happy with the first half and I didn't like the second-half at all and a bit of it is my fault, I don't have enough controllers on the pitch, not enough passes, so I've got to look at my subs also," Mokwena told SuperSport TV.

READ | Ribeiro fires Unbeaten Downs past Spurs

"But okay good, I'm happy the players are able to grind it out. We play all the tough games, sometimes I feel sorry for the players, I wish someone can play open against us so we can score seven also but we've got low blocks, reinforced defences, no space and we're struggling a little bit on confidence I think also.

"But ja, congratulations, three points in the bag and I'm happy the supporters are happy. We'll just keep going, we have to see this last part of the season and just grind away the results like we're doing. This reminds me of the time I was the assistant coach at Sundowns but we have to go. We have to demand more, push ourselves and once we get our confidence back we'll be a better team for sure," he said.

Mokwena went on and expressed regret for not having control in the game and were also not threatening on counter-attacks.

"Ja, they're tough, they are well coached, very fast on a counter-attack, especially with the two (strikers), (Ashley) Cupido, (Luke) Baartman and then they got possibilities to get tens, (Asenele) Velebayi is very aggressive and he was waiting for 'Sailor' (Khuliso Mudau) to go and the moment Sailor goes and then (Sphelele) Pitso occupies the half space, he runs behind them and they've got Cupido occupying Grant (Kekana), bringing him to the centre and then they've got a lot of space," the 37-year-old coach continued.

"And they were a big threat on transitions and we didn't have enough passes, we didn't have enough control and also we didn't threaten on counter-attacks. So you know when you don't have control and you also don't have the threat of a transition, it's a little bit difficult.

"And then too many runners, (Bathusi) Aubaas is a runner, (Junior) Mendieta is a runner, Thapelo (Thapelo) is a runner, Tash (Tashreeq Matthews) is a runner, there's not enough control and then (Siyabonga) Mabena comes in also lacks a little bit of experience," he explained.

"As I said, I think the second-half is also my fault a lot, because we didn't play with a lot of control but it's because we don't have a lot of controllers on the pitch and that's my fault big time," Mokwena added.

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