Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has cheekily replied if they have been so lucky to win games of late such as that against Young Africans in the second leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-final last Friday, saying “God loves us all.” 

Sundowns, for the first time in a while, found their match in Yanga, who gave as good as they got as they held the African giants to a goalless draw at Loftus Stadium.  

Yanga’s star attacker Aziz Ki appeared to have scored a thunderous strike in the second half, with the ball crashing into the crossbar before Ronwen Williams claimed it.  

With appeals from the East African side, referee stopped the game for VAR to look whether ball had crossed the line or not but concluded that it didn’t.  

Of course, African football at the moment doesn’t have Goal Line Technology (GLT) who will look in such events and not VAR, who despite magnifying the incident but can’t conclude if crossed the line or not.  

This point was reinforced by former FIFA referee Jarome Damon, who said “it’s impossible for VAR to say goal or not – one can only speculate either way but cannot be sure.” 

Sundowns followed this with another contentious win over Cape Town Spurs on Tuesday, where they were awarded a penalty after Asenathi Velebhayi was penalized for bringing down Peter Shalulile before Lucas Ribeiro Costa slotted what became a winning penalty. 

Mokwena said he is not aware of what is happening out there, especially on social media, because he has taken a break from it.    

“There is lot that has been said about Sundowns and fortunately what I’ve done before in the past, I have got a social media sabbatical, so I don’t know what is being said about who and how,” said Mokwena. 

“But things even themselves out. God loves us all and sometimes when you feel he neglects you, he’s got a way of showing his hand and saying I’m still God and I still have favour upon my people – it’s true. It’s how I feel at the moment. 

“I feel there’s God’s grace upon us and a long way it continues because sometimes, there’s been moments like last season in the Champions League, there was a push on Mothobi Mothobi for the equalizer to make it 2-2 (against Wydad Casablanca in second leg semifinal of the Champions League) and we didn’t get the rub of the green.  

“This season we’ve had some very good moments, some fortunate moments and all of that. All the grace and glory need to go to God. It’s moments he shows up, when you need him the most, he’s able to say I’ve got you. Even sometimes I may drop you, but I’ve got you.”  

Mokwena was speaking in the Nedbank Cup press conference in Sandton on Wednesday ahead of their Ke Yona Cup quarterfinal match against University of Pretoria on Friday (19:00).