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Mamelodi Sundowns star Maboe will not celebrate if he scores against Maritzburg United

Lebohang Maboe of Mamelodi Sundowns challenged by Willard Katsande of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on 05 January 2019.
Lebohang Maboe of Mamelodi Sundowns challenged by Willard Katsande of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on 05 January 2019.
Image: ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Lebohang Maboe will not celebrate if he scores against old team Maritzburg United for Mamelodi Sundowns in Wednesday night’s Absa Premiership game at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Maboe (24) is well aware that since his and fellow key performer Bevan Fransman’s departure in June‚ United‚ after their best season in 2017-18‚ have collapsed‚ resulting in the departure of coach Fadlu Davids in December.

Davids‚ who steered Maritzburg to their best PSL finish of fourth last campaign‚ and their first cup final in the Nedbank Cup‚ joined Orlando Pirates as assistant-coach on Tuesday.

“It’s very sad‚” Maboe said of his former team’s quick decline.

“And I just hope that they do come out of the bottom half and make it to the Premier League come next season.”

Asked is he celebrate if he scores against the team who plucked him from First Division Mbombela United and give a

PSL debut to‚ Maboe said: “I don’t think I will. I’ll sympathise with them.

“It’s more. I feel like it’s me appreciating them bringing me to the Premier League.

“So I’ would gladly show them the respect if I scored against them tomorrow.”

Can he go easily on them?

“No‚ no‚ I won’t‚” Maboe grinned. “I’m going to do what I have to do. After all‚ this is my work‚ so I have to respect the team who I’m playing for now.”

Maritzburg have traditionally given Sundowns some tough run-outs in recent seasons.

“Sundowns is a very big team. And I’m not saying we [Maritzburg] only prepared well for the big teams. But going into a Sundowns game we knew it was a very big game‚” Maboe said.

“And we would give it the game of our lives. We all had a point to prove.

“And I think what helped us a lot was that we were very united. We would play as a team‚ fighting for one another.

“So I’m expecting a very difficult game from Maritzburg tomorrow‚ knowing that they’re at the bottom of the league. They’ll come out guns blazing tomorrow.”

Sundowns will aim to bounce back from their 2-1 away defeat against Lobi Stars in Nigeria on Friday night in the opening game of their 2018-19 Caf Champions League group stage campaign.

They have Jeremy Brockie back from suspension.

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