Aubrey Modiba has called on Mamelodi Sundowns FC to produce an immediate response when they host AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership this Wednesday. The defender's message follows the club's first defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to Lamontville Golden Arrows in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Sunday. The team now aims to avoid back-to-back losses as they shift their league campaign into gear.
Sundowns sit third in the Premier Soccer League with seven points from three games, boasting a record of two wins and one draw. Their recent form reads WDW, and they have scored six goals while conceding three so far this term. That leaves them three points behind early leaders Orlando Pirates, making a strong home performance against AmaZulu important for keeping pace.
What happened against Golden Arrows?
The MTN8 setback came at Lucas Moripe Stadium, where Sede Dion's first-half strike was enough for Golden Arrows to secure a first-leg advantage. It was a frustrating result for a Sundowns side that controlled large portions of the match but failed to convert their dominance into goals. The defeat marked the team's first loss in any competition this season, interrupting what had been a positive start. The second leg of the semi-final remains to be played, leaving the tie finely balanced.
Modiba acknowledged the need to move on quickly. "Playing AmaZulu is never easy of course but right now we need to shift our attention to the league game because obviously we suffered a loss against Arrows but we’re taking the positives from that game into the league game," the defender said. The immediate task is to secure a positive result at Loftus Versfeld to maintain their strong early-season position, which you can track on our standings page.
Why is the AmaZulu match so important?
Wednesday's league fixture represents a critical opportunity to get back to winning ways before the season's rhythm is disrupted. Sundowns opened their home league campaign with a victory over Marumo Gallants, and collecting another three points at Loftus is seen as vital for their title ambitions. The team believes consistent home form is a cornerstone of any successful championship challenge.
"At Sundowns we always try to not lose consecutive games so we have to bounce back and collect all three points," Modiba stated. This mentality will be tested against an AmaZulu side looking to cause an upset. The match also offers a chance for attackers like Cassius Mailula, the club's current top scorer with two goals in three appearances, to add to his tally and help improve the team's goal difference of +3.
How does the squad shape up for the run-in?
The coming weeks will test the depth and resilience of the Sundowns squad as they compete on multiple fronts. Balancing league commitments with the ongoing MTN8 cup tie requires careful management. Players like Khulekani Shezi of Golden Arrows have already shown how difficult any opponent can be, underscoring the need for full concentration in every match.
Fans can review the team's upcoming schedule and player availability on our fixtures and squad pages. The focus now is squarely on the short-term objective: securing a league victory to erase the memory of Sunday's defeat and build momentum ahead of the MTN8 second leg and further Premiership fixtures.
