Sapula sets sights on Group B dominance as Sundowns chase COSAFA title

Banyana Ba’Style coach Godfrey Sapula says his team are determined to dominate Group B and collect maximum points from all three matches as they continue their pursuit of the COSAFA Championship.

The statement comes after Sundowns strengthened their position with a 3-0 victory over Malawi’s Silver Strikers at the Gaborone United Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Sundowns have made an impressive start to the group stage, scoring 11 goals in their opening two matches and keeping two clean sheets. Sapula says the team’s objective is not merely to secure a place in the semi-finals, but to finish the group stage strongly before attempting to go all the way in the competition.

“We are not aiming to simply qualify for the semifinals, we want to make sure that we collect maximum points from all three of our group games. We are playing according our culture and our winning mentality.”

The result against Silver Strikers followed another convincing performance from Sundowns, who have combined a potent attack with a disciplined defensive record during their first two fixtures.

Sapula was particularly pleased with the way his players maintained their intensity throughout both matches. Despite the demands of the schedule, Sundowns continued to apply pressure and preserve their level of performance until the final whistle.

The South African side have now turned their attention to their final Group B fixture, against Costa Do Sol on Tuesday. The match will determine whether they finish top of the group, and Sapula plans to make changes to his line-up as he manages the squad’s workload.

The coach says some players will be rested, while others will be given the opportunity to contribute, with qualification already not the only objective. Sundowns want to complete the group stage at the summit and carry their momentum into the knockout phase.

“We have to look at how we rest our players because some of them have played a lot of minutes, and you can’t play two 90 minute games in two days at a high intensity. We will look into that so that when we play the semi-final, we will have a fit and fresh squad ready to deliver.”

Sapula’s comments underline the balance Sundowns must strike between maintaining their winning momentum and ensuring their key players are ready for the semi-final. The short turnaround between matches means the squad will need to be managed carefully before the final group game.

With 11 goals scored and two clean sheets recorded in their first two outings, Sundowns have established themselves as the leading force in Group B. Their immediate task is to complete that work against Costa Do Sol, while their wider ambition remains clear: to win the COSAFA Championship.