Mokwena fears hectic schedule will take toll on Sundowns players

Rulani Mokwena has shared light on how they plan to navigate the upcoming hectic schedule following the current Fifa break where Mamelodi Sundowns will potentially play in four different competitions.

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The launch of the Carling Knockout adds to an already jam-packed programme that includes the DStv Premiership, Caf Champions League and potentially, the African Football League in the period between October to December.

“The most important thing is that our players need training time. They need to improve in what I call muscle integrity,” Mokwena said.

“Because we play a lot of games back to back with very little training time. Some players that don’t get game time breakdown during matches when we give them some form of opportunities. I always tell people that overload is probably less dangerous than underload.

“The focus now is to make sure we improve our team. Especially, the conditioning of players around the team that don’t get as much minutes as others because we’re coming to a phase of the season where we will need every single player we have registered.”

The Brazilians’ participation in Caf’s version of the ‘super league’ is also not cast in stone. This after the Premier Soccer League’s board of governors reportedly voted against Sundowns partaking in the eight-team competition where the winner will walk away with a mouth-watering $4 million which translates to over R76 million.

“No, not yet. On the African Football League, I don’t have enough information. As I said, we only reported back on Tuesday,” Mokwena reveals.

“Last week was so hectic because we were focusing on the final and unfortunately I don’t have a response when it comes to that.”

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Suggestions are that the South African champions might have to stretch their squad and use two different teams to challenge across all fronts.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” the 36-year-old replied to a question of potentially splitting his squad into two different groups.

“My hope is that we’re able to always put the best team on the pitch and to make sure all of us are available to assist and support the players during 90 minutes.” concluded Mokwena.

The Brazilians resume their league campaign against Moroka Swallows on October 29, a date that clashes with the semi-final of Caf’s new lucrative competition should Sundowns get past the quarter-finals against Pedro de Luanda of Angola.