Snl24 | ‘I’m also human, you can’t be strong for six months’

Players take the field during the Nedbank Cup, Last 32 match between NB La Masia and Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium on February 20, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Mamelodi Sundowns star Divine Lunga has opened up on his struggles on the sidelines having recently made his second consecutive appearance for the Brazilians this season.

Sundowns made easy work of Motsepe Foundation Championship side La Masia with a 6-1 thrashing in Dobsonville on Tuesday evening.

Speaking via the Sundowns media department, Divine shed some light on the mentality of the Sundowns squad going into the match.

“It wasn’t an easy one but when you are at Sundowns, every game is a must-win,” Divine said.

“So the coach told us not to take this game as [playing against] a small team, to take them as a PSL team (DStv Premiership team) and put you’re A-game and then we win the game and move forward.” 

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With Grant Kekana, Mothobi Mvala and Khuliso Mudau out with injuries, the night also marked a second appearance for some of the team’s fringe players like Divine. 

The 28-year-old had not featured for Sundowns since returning on his season-long loan spell from Lamontville Golden Arrows. The player admitted that time on the sidelines had frustrated him and credited both Themba Zwane and coach Mokwena for helping him through.

“For me, it was hard, it was hard,” the defender added.

“I got people that kept on pushing me and told me ‘Don’t worry, that one day it would be okay. Just keep on pushing. Just train and keep on pushing and everything will be okay.’ Then I just kept on pushing, training every day with the team.

“I had my first game with Orlando Pirates. I played this one. I think I’m okay. For now, I’m playing but before it did frustrate me a little bit.” 

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“I’m also a human being, you can’t be strong for six months. I had hiccups sometimes but I had people like Mshishi (Themba Zwane) and coach Rulani who told me, ‘Don’t worry Divine, you will be okay. You are going to play but you have to keep yourself fit,’ and then I did it.

“No one was expecting that I was going to perform like that after six months but I was training, I was even doing my extra training at home.”

Divine will be looking to keep his place in the starting line-up when Sundowns take on Nouadhibou away in the CAF Champions League on Saturday. Kick-off is at 18:00 (SA time).

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