Mamelodi Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba says the Brazilians are determined to put their recent domestic cup disappointments behind them as they prepare to begin their 2026 MTN8 campaign.
Speaking at the MTN8 launch ahead of Sundowns’ quarter-final clash against Polokwane City, Modiba admitted that the Tshwane giants have fallen short of their own expectations in local knockout competitions despite their success in the league.
To be honest, we haven’t been doing well in local tournaments,Modiba said.
We’ve been losing in the finals and semi-finals, which has been disappointing. But this season, we want to improve on what we achieved last season. Hopefully, we’ll be able to reach the final again and give ourselves a real chance of lifting the trophy.
Sundowns head into the tournament as one of the favourites, with the club eager to translate its consistent league form into silverware in knockout competitions.
Modiba believes supporters can expect a team fully committed to challenging for the title.
The fans can expect us to make some noise because we’re a team that always goes out to win tournaments,he added.
The Brazilians begin their MTN8 journey against Polokwane City in what Modiba expects to be a fiercely contested encounter. He recalled the sides’ previous meeting in the competition, when Sundowns needed extra time to edge past Rise and Shine after an unfortunate own goal decided the contest.
Our opening match against Polokwane City will be a tough one. We played them two seasons ago, and I think many people still remember that game. They took us to extra time, and unfortunately for them, they scored an own goal. This time, though, we’re ready for the challenge.
Sundowns will be aiming to make a strong start to their MTN8 campaign as they look to end their recent cup frustrations and take another step towards reclaiming one of South African football’s most prestigious knockout trophies.
Images :Akhona Nongauza