Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Dan Semake has expressed his desire for his old team to face either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
Sundowns secured their spot in the last eight with a 2-0 win over Mpheni Defenders on Sunday, with Bathusi Aubaas scoring both goals. Despite playing with 10 men in the second half, Sundowns managed to progress.
This win sees the “big three” – Sundowns, Chiefs, and Pirates – all make it to the quarter-finals. However, Semake was critical of Sundowns’ performance, particularly against lower-tier opponents.
“Yesterday, Sundowns slowed down their game. They appeared too relaxed and took things lightly. For me, no game should be easy for Sundowns, no matter who the opponent is,” Semake told SNL24.
He emphasized that Sundowns still have great depth, but the players’ mentality and attitude are crucial. He pointed out that many South African players’ attitudes change when they’re not selected regularly for the starting lineup.
Semake also revealed that he would like Sundowns to face Chiefs or Pirates next.
“I hope we draw teams like Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs in the quarter-finals,” said the former Sundowns defender. “When playing against these teams, our players’ mentality changes automatically. They don’t need extra motivation from the coach. But our performance tends to dip when facing smaller teams, and I’m not sure why.”
Sundowns have won all their encounters with Chiefs and Pirates this season and are among the favorites to win the Nedbank Cup.
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