Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says a capable Maritzburg United side stands in the way of possibly winning two domestic titles this season.
The former Caf Champions League champions will face a youthful KwaZulu-Natal team in back-to-back encounters.
First the two teams will clash in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday, before facing off in an Absa Premiership fixture three days later.
Mamelodi Sundowns are unbeaten in 10 straight matches, against Golden Arrows earlier this week, the ABSA Premiership log leaders registered their fifth win in a row.
Sundowns are now two games away from lifting the Nedbank Cup. They have won the trophy twice in the last 10 seasons, and last lifted it four seasons ago.
However, they will be up against the most improved side in the league this season.
“One team will really determine if we are in the final which is Maritzburg and one team will determine if you’ll be needing a point to win the title so Maritzburg is a stumbling block I think they would like to be party poopers. It’s also important for them for the cup, to do well in the cup they’ve done very well,” said Mosimane.
Playing United in two successive matches will be tricky, more especially since both fixtures will be away games for the Pretoria club.
“We know what happened in the last three matches, last season and we don’t want to repeat the same mistakes. It’s good to have the whole season than to have 27 good matches, and three bad ones,” said Mamelodi Sundown’s Percy Tau.
Sundowns are eager to redeem themselves after ending last season without winning a single trophy.
Besides competing in the league and the Nedbank Cup, Sundowns will start their CAF Champions League group phase against defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
