'We are Sundowns. We will bounce back,' says coach Mokwena after MTN8 final defeat

Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach Rhulani Mokwena issued a stern warning to teams in the DStv Premiership after losing the MTN8 final to Orlando Pirates on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium. 

The Brazilians were strong favourites to win the final as they have been dominant in the league, and Pirates came into this match in a slump, struggling for goals and facing disappointment in their last four matches.

READ | Orlando Pirates retain MTN8 crown through Sipho Chaine's safe hands

But the Buccaneers stunned Sundowns to defend the trophy they won last season. 

“This team always tries its level best to win,” said Mokwena. “We are Sundowns. We will bounce back. We will bounce back. It’s a difficult one to swallow. But we will bounce back. We will be back!”

The last time Sundowns were hurt by Pirates, in the semi-finals of the MTN8 last season, they picked themselves up and won all the 20 matches that remained in the DStv Premiership to win the championship for a record sixth time in a row. 

In the 48 matches that Mokwena has been in charge of Sundowns as the sole head coach, the club has only lost twice – to Stellenbosch in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup and to Pirates on Saturday. 

The defeat stung Mokwena, who tried very hard to bite his tongue and not blame the referee for the loss with two penalty decisions that the club felt should have gone their way. 

Despite both teams putting pressure on the referee leading up to the final, for the most part, Abongile Tom handled the match well, asserting his control in an emotional match and allowing the game to flow.

In one of the decisions that Sundowns felt aggrieved, replays showed Tom seemed to have made the right call as Peter Shalulile impeded Sipho Chaine before the Pirates’ goalkeeper