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Football | Absa Premiership

Johan Neeskens © Backpagepix

Brazilians looking to recover



Mamelodi Sundowns boss Johan Neeskens believes it's only a matter of time before the Brazilians lift themselves off the foot of the Premiership table and get back to winning ways.

Downs, fresh off their Telkom Knockout semifinal win over SuperSport United at the weekend, take on AmaZulu in a league clash in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.

"Things aren't going too well in the league, we all know that," Neeskens said ahead of the midweek encounter in Atteridgeville.

"They are more or less in the same position as we are.

"But I'm confident that we can come out of there (bottom of the table) and still believe in each other, working 100 percent hard for each other and we keep on going."

The Brazilians have the opportunity to leapfrog 14th-placed Amazulu, but Neeskens said he was focussed on the clash, rather than the log standings.

"We can expect a tough game against a very motivated team," he said.

"We need to stay positive. That's the only way we are going to come out of this situation.

"It is not easy to see us at the bottom like that, because I believe we have a team that should be competing for first place.

"I understand how my players feel because we haven't had an easy start to the season and we are bottom after 10 matches."

Neeskens hoped his side could carry their cup form into the league, having claimed a single win from 10 Premiership fixtures this season.

"We are breaking the deadlocks, so we just need to move forward," he said.

"We are also getting our confidence back. If you look at the last couple of matches we played, we have been solid at the back, played attacking football and showed commitment. The only thing missing is a victory."

In Wednesday's other fixtures, Free State Stars take on the University of Pretoria in Phuthaditjhaba, Golden Arrows face Bloemfontein Celtic in Umlazi, and Black Leopards entertain title holders Orlando Pirates in Polokwane.

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