'Mandate, what mandate?'

"IT'S not a mandate but a will to win that will drive Mamelodi Sundowns to greater heights this season."

This was Katlego Mashego's curt response when the question of "a mandate from the Sundowns board" was put to him in a press conference yesterday.

Sundowns are set to meet hoodoo team Platinum Stars in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal fixture at Moruleng Stadium tomorrow.

Kickoff is at 7pm.

Naturally, expectations have mounted for the Tshwane giants to finally get the Stars monkey off their backs, following seasons of torment and humiliation at the hands of the North West team.

"Mandate? What mandate?" Mashego retorted.

"I don't know of any mandate. Actually, we don't need any mandate. We know what is expected of us as Sundowns players. What we have to do is win the next game and many other games this season."

The Sundowns board made it clear they were expecting the team to deliver a league championship and at least a single knockout trophy.

But Mashego, the striker who joined Sundowns in the off-season, wouldn't hear of that. "I've played under pressure before at my previous clubs, and I know once I score my first goal, many more will come," Mashego said.

"I've been hearing a lot of talk about Platinum Stars being the hoodoo team for us, but that doesn't bother us. It's about time we beat Platinum Stars.

"We were close to beating them in the league. This time we will win."

Sundowns have battled against Dikwena in the last two seasons.

And it would be a completely different match this time, though, as Dikwena are still riding the crest of a wave, following their MTN8 triumph and a perfect start to their Telkom Knockout campaign, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United.

Stars marksman Patrick Malokase, however, insisted MTN8 celebrations were over and that the team were eyeing their next piece of silverware.

"We still have the team which troubled Sundowns in the past, and the mentality hasn't changed," said Malokase.