Arendse backs Sundowns to win a treble

Now that Mamelodi Sundowns have qualified for the Caf Champions League group stages, defender Wayne Arendse believes the Brazilians are in pole position to win the coveted treble as they are leading the run-in for the Absa Premiership title, and they have a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal appointment with Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City next week in the Mother City.

“We want to win the Nedbank Cup and we want to win the league championship. No matter what competition we are in, we go into it to win it. It is the same with the Champions League … we want to win all these competitions,” he said.

The next league game for Masandawana is only on April 4 against Chippa United, and in that, Arendse says the gaps between their games makes it easier to manage their usually hectic schedule.

“The Champions League will be stepping aside a bit. There is quite a gap in between the Premiership and the Champions League and I think we are managing well this year,” he said.

“With the Nedbank Cup as well, the coach has been rotating the team and what matters now is progressing and getting points in the league,” he added.

Arendse, who has enjoyed much success with Bafana Ba Style, says newly recruited players in the form of Jeremy Brockie, Gaston Sirino and Aubrey Ngoma are in the right club, but will need to prove why they were lured to Chloorkop.

“The new guys who have joined the club want to feel that and you can see they came to Sundowns to win things and that they are at the right place.

“For them to win things they need to show why they are here and I think it will be crucial for the new guys to show why the coach trusted them and us who have been here for longer have to prove to them we are a winning team,” said Arendse.