Mamelodi Sundowns defender Malibongwe Khoza has warned his teammates to expect a stern challenge when the Brazilians host newly promoted Milford FC in the Premiership this evening.
Milford suffered defeat against Orlando Pirates in their opening match of the season but have responded impressively, going unbeaten in their following three games with two victories and a draw.
Sundowns will therefore need to guard against complacency at Loftus Versfeld, particularly with Milford showing an ability to punish opponents on the counter-attack.
“We’re expecting a very energetic team and counter-attacking play,” Khoza said. “I think we’re ready for them and we’re going to give our all for our supporters.”
The 22-year-old also highlighted the experience within Milford’s squad as one of the reasons for their encouraging start to life in the top flight.
“They have a lot of experienced players. It helps them to keep the momentum going and to keep the team stable.”
READ: Mamelodi Sundowns Look to Extend Unbeaten Start Against Newcomers Milford FC
Sundowns approach the fixture with confidence after reaching the MTN8 final by edging past Golden Arrows in a dramatic semi-final.
Reaching the final has particular importance for the club after they ended last season without domestic silverware. Khoza said the achievement demonstrated a determination to improve their record in South African competitions.
“It feels amazing because it’s something we wanted to achieve,” he said. “People are complaining that we’re not putting more focus on local competitions, so we made sure that we reached the final and we will try to win it.”