MTN8 quarter-final preview: Mamelodi Sundowns ready for Richards Bay
Mamelodi Sundowns get their new season underway with a MTN8 quarter-final clash with Richards Bay on Sunday.
Ronnie Gabriel: Richards Bay ready for Mamelodi Sundowns test
The Natal Rich Boyz snuck int the top eight competition in the final week of the 2024/25 season to secure a knockout clash with the league winners.
The two sides meet at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday, and Gabriel says he's hopeful of a positive result to head into their opening league fixture of the new Betway Premiership season.
Sundowns last lifted the MTN8 trophy in the 2021/22 season, defeating Cape Town City in the final.
Ahead of the weekend's game, the Bay boss said on FARPost: "With MTN8, we know that it's number one versus number eight, so we got Sundowns, they finished first in the league and we're number eight.
"So, going into the fixture, there's not too much pressure on us. We want to go and compete but play with a lot of freedom.
"This gives us a chance to be ready for the following week, the league game. If our performance takes us into the next round, we'll be very, very happy about it.
"This will give us a chance to gauge ourselves against one of the best teams in Africa. And we saw in the Club World Cup, Sundowns can punch against the big teams in the world as well."
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