Rulani Mokwena expects the combined experience of the Mamelodi Sundowns coaching staff to be enough to see them overcome Cape Town City and lift the MTN8 trophy.
The Brazilians have won every other trophy on offer in recent seasons but have not claimed the MTN8 since it was called the SAA Super Eight Cup, in 2007.
In Eric Tinkler, they face an opponent who has tasted cup success, with the MTN8 while at Supersport United and previously with City when he lifted the Telkom Knockout.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Mokwena told his club’s website: “We expect a very difficult match against a very good side, when you speak of preparations and analysis, you look at two facets: The one is from a personnel aspect of course, my opinion is that Cape Town City probably have close to the most complete sides in relation to personnel, they have specialists in every position and very good players.
“The good thing is that we have the experience that Coach Manqoba [Mnqithi] has with Cup finals, Coach Steve Kompela has been a head coach in cup finals and we have the experience of players in dealing with cup finals.”
Mokwena added that his players have the required experience as well.
“We are blessed in that space that we have players that have played so many cup finals and games of consequence, they know what playing games of consequence means for the club and how important it is for us to be able to put this one to bed for the club.
“It is the one trophy that over the years we haven’t won and it’s a trophy that we are motivated by the desires of our goals and not being motivated by the pressure of having not won the trophy, it’s two different aspects -the one comes from more of a negative context and the one comes from more of the positive context,” he said.