Mamelodi Sundowns target Carling Knockout semi-final against Golden Arrows

Mamelodi Sundowns will look to maintain their winning form when they host Golden Arrows in the Carling Knockout quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday (19:00).

The match comes five days before Sundowns face USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup on Sunday, giving Miguel Cardoso’s side an opportunity to build confidence ahead of that contest.

Sundowns recorded a convincing 4-1 victory over Durban City at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday. Following their disappointing departure from the Champions League preliminary stages, the Carling Knockout and CAF Super Cup have become important targets for the club.

Tuesday’s fixture will be the fourth meeting between Sundowns and Arrows this season. The sides first met in the MTN8 semi-finals, where Arrows won the opening leg 1-0. Sundowns overturned that deficit by winning the second leg 3-2 and progressing on away goals.

The Brazilians then claimed a 2-1 victory over Arrows in a league meeting.

Cardoso believes another win is essential as Sundowns prepare for their continental assignment, but said the team could offer supporters only total commitment rather than guarantees.

“We have the Carling Knockout, and at the weekend we have the Super Cup. We had a big setback, as you know, in our season,” Cardoso said.

“It was an important moment that we should have accomplished, but we did not. We need to deal with that responsibility, and the only thing we can do is to be as strong as we can.

“That’s the only thing I can promise to Sundowns supporters that we will push to fight for everything. We don’t promise anything but work, determination and a lot of commitment.”

Golden Arrows will attempt to upset the quarter-final favourites, although they arrive at Loftus Versfeld after a mixed spell of form and a 1-0 defeat by AmaZulu at the weekend.

The club are also beginning a new period under returning coach Mandla Ncikazi. His first match back ended in a narrow loss, and he will be determined to prevent Arrows from suffering consecutive defeats.

Ncikazi said the congested schedule had left him with limited opportunity to work on specific elements of the team’s play.

“We have a challenge right now there’s not much time. We have another game on Tuesday. So, we want to train in certain aspects, but we are playing games. But that’s the responsibility of a coach,” Ncikazi said.