STEVE KOMPHELA REFLECTS ON MAMELODI SUNDOWNS PRE-SEASON TOUR

Steve Komphela is not concerned by Mamelodi Sundowns’ indifferent form during their pre-season tour of Austria.

Without the departed Rulani Mokwena, the Brazilians have suffered defeats to German second tier side SV Sandhausen as well as to Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv.

Sundowns most recently held English Championship side Cardiff City to a 1-1 draw and Komphela says he’s encouraged by their most recent result.

After Tuesday’s clash at Waldstadion Westendorf where Tashreeq Matthews cancelled out a strike from Joel Colwill, the senior coach gave his assessment of the tie.

He said in the Sowetan: “In all practice matches or friendly matches in pre-season, there are two things you look at. It’s the performances and also the results. From a results point of view, Sundowns will never wish to draw a match.

“We’re just a machine engineered to win but there are a lot of challenges in the fact that Cardiff City will always give you crosses, balls in the air and also give you problems in terms of set-play and you have to be organised which I thought we dealt with.

“Another plus is that there were also physical which takes you to another physical level in terms of your overall preparations and the objectives you’d say that in terms of you moving forward. For sure, you will see a lot of baby steps and blocks that you put as a stepping stone towards what you wish to achieve.”

Masandawana complete their European tour with a match against Al Arabi on Friday. The new Betway Premiership will get underway on 3 August 2024.