Sipho Mthembu
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund will have a strong squad to select his team from for the Telkom Knockout Cup semifinal against Ajax Cape Town in Rustenburg on Sunday.
The Brazilians beat Maritzburg United on Sunday minus Esrom Nyandoro and David Kannemeyer, who were both suspended.
Bennet Mnguni, Tyren Arendse and Neil Winstanley were also out with an assortment of injuries.
"I expect all of them to be available for the semifinal. It will be up to every individual to fight for their places in the team. No one walks into the team. We fight for places at Sundowns," said Igesund.
"I am happy the team has regained the winning mentality. The guys are responding nicely but it is not going to be easy against Ajax. They are doing very well. They held log leaders [Silver Stars, 0-0] at the weekend."
Igesund is not worried that the Brazilians have never won a cup game at Olympia Park.
"It does not worry me personally. It will be a completely new ball game. I have a very good team," he said.
The multiple championship-winning coach said the Brazilians are playing "attractive" football but also know when to graft out a result.
"We are playing nice carpet football, but when the need arises to graft we do. That was the case against Maritzburg. It was a scrappy game, very tough, but we fought for the result."
The other semifinal between Santos and Silver Stars will be played in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
Igesund spoilt for choice against Ajax
Sipho Mthembu
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund will have a strong squad to select his team from for the Telkom Knockout Cup semifinal against Ajax Cape Town in Rustenburg on Sunday.
The Brazilians beat Maritzburg United on Sunday minus Esrom Nyandoro and David Kannemeyer, who were both suspended.
Bennet Mnguni, Tyren Arendse and Neil Winstanley were also out with an assortment of injuries.
"I expect all of them to be available for the semifinal. It will be up to every individual to fight for their places in the team. No one walks into the team. We fight for places at Sundowns," said Igesund.
"I am happy the team has regained the winning mentality. The guys are responding nicely but it is not going to be easy against Ajax. They are doing very well. They held log leaders [Silver Stars, 0-0] at the weekend."
Igesund is not worried that the Brazilians have never won a cup game at Olympia Park.
"It does not worry me personally. It will be a completely new ball game. I have a very good team," he said.
The multiple championship-winning coach said the Brazilians are playing "attractive" football but also know when to graft out a result.
"We are playing nice carpet football, but when the need arises to graft we do. That was the case against Maritzburg. It was a scrappy game, very tough, but we fought for the result."
The other semifinal between Santos and Silver Stars will be played in Potchefstroom on Saturday.