Mamelodi Sundowns have taken a trip out of the country to visit Moroccan side, AS FAR for their second assignment in the CAF Champions League group stages. Bafana Ba Style will be keen to collect all points on offer when they meet AS FAR on Saturday evening at Stade El Abdi.
Having had six days to gear up for this encounter, coach Manqoba Mngqithi stated that his side has had enough time to prepare, despite the mammoth fixtures they have had so far this season.
“I think the preparations have gone quite well. The team looks good. We have had some days in between, to prepare, which is something we don’t normally get. We normally play after every two days but besides that, we are looking forward to the match.”
The Brazilians head to this encounter eyeing maximum points after being held to a draw last week by Maniema Union at home. They were able to return to winning ways after winning their league game at the weekend. The victory, despite not being one in the CAFCL, will help boost their confidence as they shift their focus back to continental duties.
Looking ahead to the first meeting between the two sides, coach Manqoba admitted that their opponents won’t be an easy side to defeat. He touched on their abilities and what they can do in the pitch on the day, saying: “we are playing against a team that was always ranked number one in position last season. I think they are now ranked number three. In terms of their expected goals, they have scored more goals than they are supposed to be scoring. They have also conceded less than what they should have.”
“They have got some influential players who have scored important goals for the team. We are playing against a team that plays a lot of crosses and are very good in set-pieces. We will head to this game knowing what kind of a team we will be facing, and I know they also know what we are capable of,” he continued.
With the battle of supremacy in Group B underway, the Masandawana coach has confidently backed his side to fight until the very end and return home with desired results to boost their chances of qualifying to the next round.
“We are a team that adapts to any situation. In this game we have a big responsibility to try and fight to win the match against a very strong opponent that is also very strong that is also very strong on ball possession. I can only foresee a very interesting match for the spectators because I don’t think there’s any of the two teams that will not want to win this match. We are optimistic that we get something out of this match even if it’s a point,” he concluded.
Mamelodi Sundowns will battle it out with AS FAR on Saturday evening at the Stade Al Abdi in Morocco. Kick-off is scheduled for 21H00, live on SABC and SuperSport TV.
What I’ve noticed from this players they don’t fear or respect Manqoba because they know he can’t talk or shout during the game he will only talk on postmatch interview blaming them.
No it can’t be like this we don’t have a coach really,Allendale is not giving us any positive play whereas our creative player Mkhulise is always starting from the bench,let Benni comes and scold or rebuke this players because they’re on holiday starting from the goalkeeper.
How I wish Ribeiro can be released next transfer window I mean the guy is ill discipline and our coach just watch and be quiet.
We have another Sirino in Ribeiro the guy is full of himself because we are praising him a lot that’s why he’s big headed.
Morning masandawana i don’t know maybe the players don’t want the coach or the coach is the one who is filling us, the style of play it sucks no energy
Our internationals when they’re playing for Bafana you could see they want to die for the team but come to Downs they’re so casual as if are forced to play and our coach is just sitting down the whole game,yesterday it was the first seeing him standing and lastly I never saw or heard a team that is so poor in defending or scoring on setpieces like Downs and I don’t know what are they doing on practices and our setpieces specialist failed us big time..
I agree with u Kunene, national team players at Sundowns tend 2 undermine the badge& r not pulling their weight at all.As 4 this coach Mngqithi he just becomes a certified fool of note just stares at the proceedings not shouting any instructions.And give u a full analysis of all what happened on the field of play.Then Modiba substitutes himself by getting a red card what was Modiba giving us throughout the game?Then again Allende is playing shit 2 say the least bt 2 finish the game doing what no forward pass,shot at goal or an assist or let alone a goal.If u select that 2 complete the game against Africans that r aggressive what r u expecting.The question is does Manqoba know that we r going 2 the club world cup?Is this what is preparing for,I never thought Mngqithi was such a weakling,hay sisiyoyoyo man uMngqithi.He is becoming cheap coach day by day.SABC SPORTS ANALYSIS position is there 4 the taking apply bhuty.Day by day having Mngqithi. becoming is a curse.Its disappointing 2 witness Mkhulise being starved of game time bcoz of this fool.Mudau isn’t pulling his weight put Mdunyelwa,then Aubaas&Mokoena kept on losing the ball cheaply&weren’t prepared 2 care about that at all.I don’t think Sundowns will even get a win in this group, Mngqithi is a headless chicken.
No such thing says players doesn’t want to play Manqoba he cause problem himself by chance suitable style of play why fix if not broken has no coaching technics because u protect him u player to be released this season Sundowns noway progress to knock out stage a CAF