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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Sundowns coach reveals massive demand </li><li>Mokwena wants his team to replicate Barcelona</li><li>Sundowns have the Tshwane derby coming up</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'We are poisonous' - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena set a 1000 passes target

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It is almost a given that Sundowns will have the lion's share of the ball possession against most PSL teams, and now Mokwena wants his team to take their dominance a notch higher.Sundowns are the highest-scoring team in the league with 32 goals after beating Chippa United 2-0 on Saturday - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/mamelodi-sundowns-coach-mokwena-admits-they-felt-nervous-shaky-not-confident-against-chippa-united/blt9e6dfa5bf9655871" target="_blank">a performance Mokwena said he is not happy about</a>.Now, the demanding mentor revealed that he asked his team to make no fewer than 1000 passes against the Chilli Boys.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Possession-based football was made famous by Spanish giants Barcelona under Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, and coaches like Pep Guardiola kept that tradition and enjoyed much success with that system championed by Xavi and Andres Iniesta. At Downs, Mokwena has the South American influence of Ribeiro Costa, Marcelo Allende, Junior Mendieta, Gaston Sirino and Matías Esquivel.These players are surrounded by a host of Bafana Bafana internationals such as Teboho Mokoena, Mothobi Mvala and Themba Zwane, who would be Mokwena's engine to pioneer the tiki-taka.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

"I want the chameleon, to adapt and move at the right and flex the tongue. We are poisonous and we know when to attack and today (Saturday) I asked for 1000 passes. I am told we got close, we had 600 and something," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UAZYoAshT0&amp;t=1020s" target="_blank">Mokwena told members of the media</a>."I am not happy and there is a reason why I asked for 1000 passes because teams like Chippa played a mid-week game and they traveled, and they are very dangerous with long throw-ins."The only way to minimize that threat is with more passes. Keep moving and play closer together, which I think we did very well in the second half. My players are very clever and they have an understanding of what we are trying to create. We will get there."

WHAT WAS SAID

The reigning PSL champions are sitting comfortably at the summit of the log after collecting 45 points from 17 games and are yet to lose a game this season. Coming up next for Masandawana is the Tshwane derby against crosstown foes SuperSport United.Matsatsantsa A Pitori are the last team to beat Sundowns in the PSL as they gave Downs a 2-0 hiding in September 2022. Gavin Hunt's side have not won a game in three outings as they played draws against AmaZulu, Cape Town City and Stellenbosch.

WHAT'S NEXT? 

'We are poisonous' - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena set a 1000 passes target | Goal.com

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena has asked his side to replicate Barcelona&apos;s possession-based tiki taka brand of football.

&apos;We are poisonous&apos; - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena set a 1000 passes target

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