"We Knew We'd Win": Maduka Shares How They Managed Sundowns' Defeat

"We Knew We'd Win": Maduka Shares How They Managed Sundowns' Defeat

Marilynn Manuel
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:47 PM

- Bloemfontein Celtic coach John Maduka has opened up about his team's win against Mamelodi Sundowns this past weekend

- Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic went head-to-head at the MTN8 quarter-finals last Sunday

- While Sundowns were equipped with three coaches, they did not manage to outsmart Maduka, who says he knew they would win

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John Maduka has recently shared that he knew his team, the Bloemfontein Celtics, would have victory over Sundowns in last weekend's MTN8 quarter-finals. The team managed to beat the Brazilians 1-0 in the anticipated match.

While not many expected Celtic to win the match - especially considering the Brazilians came armed with not one but three coaches - Maduka says he knew that his team was well-equipped with a strategy that certainly proved to be rock-solid.

“What we did was to allow them to have the ball, we drop a bit so that we can be able to use the space behind their defence and we defended well, that’s one thing we wanted to make sure of, make sure that we defend well. If we defend well, we knew that at the end of the day we’ll be able to win the game," said Maduka.

Freshly equipped with confidence brought along by victory, the Bloemfontein Celtics will go on to face the Golden Arrows in their opening DStv Premiership clash this Saturday afternoon at the Dr Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein.

Meanwhile Briefly.co.za reported how South African football fans dragged Sundowns' coaches following their defeat. On Sunday, the Mamelodi Sundowns fell out of the MTN 8 Cup after losing 1-0 against Bloemfontein Celtic.

Bloemfontein Celtic coach John Maduka says he knew they would win
Bloemfontein Celtic coach John Maduka speaks after the match at the MTN8 quarter-final. Source: Twitter/Bloemfontein Celtic
Source: Twitter

Taking to Twitter, Masandawana reacted to the disappointment:

"Not the desired result as we bow out of the MTN 8 Cup. Let’s get behind the boys ahead of the leagues season opener. Mamelodi Sundowns 0-1️⃣ Bloemfontein Celtic (68' Letsoalo) #Sundowns #DownsLive #MTN8."

South Africans, including Natasha Thahane, roasted the Brazilians over their poor performance despite having three coaches. After Pitso Mosimane dumped the team to join Al Ahly, the Sundowns appointed Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi as head coaches and Steve Komphela as a senior coach.

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Marilynn Manuel
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