Williams: Sundowns Suffering After Loss to Pirates
Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams expresses that the team’s morale has taken a hit following their loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final.
The African Giants suffered a penalty shootout defeat at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, leaving the squad feeling disheartened.
“We’re not in the best space right now,” Williams remarked. “The mood is certainly not uplifting.”
Despite this setback, Williams emphasizes the need for the team to regroup for a significant Betway Premiership encounter against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
“Our goal was to kick off the campaign positively by reaching the MTN8 final. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” he explained.
“We just need to pick ourselves up and move forward. We had a constructive meeting to evaluate both the good and bad aspects of the last match and now it’s time to progress.”
Williams also noted how the defeat has affected both the team and their supporters. “We’re all feeling the pain, especially for our fans. We’re in this together, and we must draw on positive energy and support one another through this tough time. The upcoming challenge against Kaizer Chiefs is what we’re now focusing on.”
Preparing for the Chiefs Match
The upcoming match against Chiefs will be a tough challenge for Sundowns. The Glamour Boys are currently tied at the top of the league table with nine points, having won their first three matches without conceding a single goal.
However, Sundowns have historically performed well against them. They secured victories in both league matches last season, including a commanding 4-0 win in the Carling Knockout. Over their last 49 encounters, Sundowns have triumphed 21 times, while Chiefs have won 16.
Having faced Chiefs 32 times in his career, with 16 wins and just 10 losses, Williams anticipates a challenging match. “Our next game against Kaizer Chiefs will be significant,” he stated.
“They’ve had a strong start, and their confidence is high. But we should approach the game with our own confidence as well.”
He acknowledged that while the team hasn’t lost in open play this season, there are still areas for improvement. “There’s a sense of unease, and it’s clear the team hasn’t fully settled,” he remarked.
“Nevertheless, we believe we have what it takes to secure a positive outcome. We’ve done it in previous seasons at FNB and need to replicate that. Although they’re feeling confident, we need to focus on our game and put in an extra 10 percent since we usually start matches strongly.”
“The latter stages of the games have been where we struggle, and we must reflect, improve, and move forward as a unified team.”
