Sundowns hoping for third time lucky in Diski Shield

Mamelodi Sundowns are hoping that the 2022-23 DStv Diski Shield will be a classic case of "third time lucky".

In the third edition of Diski, Downs are hoping to finally go all the way and clinch the title that eluded them twice.

In 2018 Sundowns finished as runners-up to Arthur Zwane’s Kaizer Chiefs. The following year they lost the final again to Vusumuzi Vilakazi’s Golden Arrows, and this time, having finished in the top eight again, Sundowns want this title.

This Saturday they will start the tournament with a blockbuster encounter against Orlando Pirates at Wits Football Stadium.

The kick-off is set for 12.30pm CAT.

But the history of the cup competitions has proved that cup football is notorious for its upsets - unless Downs are able to be consistent from the quarterfinals until the final day of the tournament on 23 July when the champions are crowned.

Sundowns coach Surprise Moriri stressed that they will have to score goals and keep clean sheets. But it will not be easy as they start against Pirates who are looking at making up for the past season where they bottled the league title in the final stages of the season.

Pirates also have never won the Diski Shield title.

Moriri said: “Our matches against Orlando Pirates are always interesting and this one will be no different. It will be another humdinger.”

“But we have prepared well, I believe we will be ready for whatever they will throw to us on Saturday. You know we have to beat the best to win this. If we can’t beat Pirates in the quarterfinal clearly we do not deserve to win it.”

These will be the first Diski matches since May when the league ended.

Moriri said since they resumed training they have been working more on their levels of fitness as they want to avoid losing the game in the last stages of the match, as has been the case for them in the league last season.

In the Sundowns team, there would not be many changes as the coach confirmed that all his soldiers are available as they still qualify to play in the Diski Shield.

Meanwhile, Pirates will be without last season's goalscorer Boitumelo Radiopane who is currently with the Bafana Bafana squad for the Cosafa Cup in Durban.

Radiopane scored 24 goals in the league and won the top goalscorer award.