Mamelodi Sundowns are gearing up to conclude their group stages campaign in the 2024/25 CAF Champions League when they play host to Moroccan side, AS FAR Rabat at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.
Bafana Ba Style came from the back of a 2-1 triumph away from home which kept their hopes to qualify for the knockout round alive. Next up for them, is a crucial game which according to head coach Miguel Cardoso, is a must-win for his side. Looking ahead to their first home fixture this year, the coach spoke at the press conference in Pretoria, stating that his side has had enough time to prepare for what is anticipated to be a mouthwatering clash.
“It’s an important match, one that everyone will want to be a part of. We worked very well during the week, something we haven’t been able to do for a while now, due to our tight schedule. We tried to prepare ourselves as best as we could and help the players with recovery and getting them ready for the game in terms of physical conditioning and tactical approach. We are now making the finishing touches so that we can get a result that makes us qualify for the next round,” he said.
Defender, Mosa Lebusa, uttered similar words shared by his coach, stating that the team looks ready and confident to play a game they are looking to win. He said: “From the players’ side, we are very excited and we know what it means to take the team to the next round of the competition. Everyone has been working hard and we are ready for the hard work we ought to display tomorrow.”
A draw against the Moroccan side will book the Brazilians a place in the quarter-final, while a straight win will not only book them a place in the next round, but it will also see them finish the group stages on top of the Group B log. Coach Miguel has confidently stated that the mandate for his side will be to win this game as they didn’t prepare for a draw.
“I think both teams have a clear identity in the manner they approach the game and I think that’s what you are going to see on the pitch. AS FAR have less to lose as they are already through to the knockout stages. They’ll be playing for the first position in the group while we will be playing to proceed to the next round. We know that a draw will get us through to the next round but the objective is to win the game because anyone with a mindset to draw usually loses the game,” he said.
Lebusa concluded by urging the Yellow Nation to come out in numbers to support them in their first home game of the year, saying: “I think for us, winning is very important. It’s our first game of the year at home in front of our fans. We know that when our fans are present and beating the drum for us, nothing goes wrong. So, we are hoping they come in numbers and we will make sure we don’t disappoint them.”
Mamelodi Sundowns will go head-to-head with AS FAR Rabat on Sunday night. Kick-off has been scheduled for 18H00, live on SuperSport TV.
I hope those supporters whom are always crying about the so called “Downs wayfarer happy now ngalombhedo esiwudlalayo and if we as other supporters cry for that some want this thing and we keep on saying our internationals are derailing us together with Ribeiro big time.
It will be my disappointment if Ribeiro didn’t go on this transfer window I will cry like a babe really and on quarter finals because we are number two the second leg will be away which means we must score a lot of goals in our first leg and we might face Pirates who knows.
How can Sundowns supporters be happy with the kind of football we’re playing? We’ve been concerned that the team is regressing since this coach took over, and some of you have been in denial. I think you’re the one who’s more happier than those Downs supporters who’ve been complaining. There was so much progress under Manqoba, his team was playing with much purpose. I still say that if management was unhappy with Manqoba, they should’ve at least gone for Miguel Gamondi.
Ya it’s true the reason I was happy when Manqoba was fired was because he was so quiet during the game and only talk on postmatch interviews but regarding to the disciplining the so called big stars I was fully behind him and some of our fellow members were insulting him for that because their favourites was sitting on grandstand even on Zwane that he’s old he can’t play every games including Bafana I also supported him on that but some said he hates them he wants to prove Rhulani wrong and was called all sort of names.
Regarding Cardoso I’m fully behind him he’s downfall is giving this players too much freedom even when they are doing that rubbish backpasses close to the poles and today he even pass the opponent when he tries to be smart that what I don’t like about Cardoso even on Rhulani I was crying about this overdoing of short passes at the back and some will says it’s a Downs way even when we leading by one nil and look what happened today.
Lastly Dalom Mfowethu and others are you happy about contribution of Ribeiro this season if we are fair to ourselves. Ribeiro was good last year when he was wearing jersey no.23 now he’s star maybe he thinks he’s Zidane or Pele.I know he doesn’t field himself but his attitude is bad but oneday you’ll agree with me on Ribeiro
Lastly okwamampela I heard that we want one of the two Yan Sasse of Brasil playing for Esperance or Gelson Dala of Angola I think he plays in Middle East or Portugal the latter unswempu if singamthola lo Ribeiro wenu will sit on grandstand just watch them on YouTube you’ll be amazed like me mark my words.
In the history of Sundowns we never had had group of players who disrespected us as supporters and the brand Mamelodi Sundowns like the current nonsense of players.Some didn’t go to church,some sacrificed their time to prepare for work tomorrow,others left their families and even used their last money to go to support the team only to witness that nonsense of football which was played mainly by Williams,Kekana and Khoza.Williams lacks professionalism and leadership skills and he should be stripped off the captaincy arm band.Our front players ended up turning into spectators watching Williams and Kekana playing amongst themselves.Immediately after our game I watched Man City play and the were leading 5-0 and I never saw them playing in their own 18 area hence I always said we play at the back without purpose.We were playing progressive football under Manqoba,under the current technical team we played 6 games and never scored more than 2 goals.Williams and Kekana must be be benched for the duration of our participation in the champions league.When are we going to see our team scoring 3 goals? Some players think they are indispensable forgetting that we won many trophies ahead of them playing for their respective teams.Supporters attend games to see goals.Our management is also to be blamed Manqoba was on the right track trying to discipline these spoiled players and out of the blue he was fired.
Congrats to the players and the technical team for our qualification to the knockout phase, however our performance is not convincing at all, and its been sometime now.We do not know how to kill a game, a one up makes us to relax and not take the game serious, fail to pass the ball up front, fail to take shots at goal, fail to man mark when you loose the ball mxm.We are progressing because luck has been on our side and we need it now more than ever before.Team selection at times is a problem, how can you select players who always pass the ball backwards and sideways the entire match, and leave out Maema who takes shots often.We also have a serious problem at the back, strong opposition can easily kill us , where is Mvala ,is he still injured?
morning masandawana im happy we qualified but the second half performance was very poor. our goal keeper nearly cost us game with his mistakes.it seems like you play for ball possession not to score so that you can comfortable.
Downs4Ever it’s true my broer what you have just said,all this Bafana internationals are not respecting our team including Ribeiro. Modau is coming back you will see his childish behaviour again and what puzzles me our Management including our Chairman is there and he he saw everything but they will not discipline them or they are afraid of them I really don’t know maybe those who were at the stadium shout at them maybe they can stop and Kekana likes to do that whereas knows he is not comfortable on the ball let Ronwen see on the bench for few games maybe he will change his attitude.
We are through to the next round, but it’s true, everyone saw that we could have killed the game first have, I think playing out from the back works when done perfectly and not overdoing it as was the case. I remember the game we were leading Chiefs 4-0 & Manqoba was so angry that they started playing at the back without purpose, he wanted more goals. I suspect that the current technical team encourages it, maybe that’s one of the things that got Manqoba on the wrong side of the bosses, he was very vocal about it. Coach Steve at swallows was starting play it and he even said you “must be prepared to pay the school fees playing from the back”. Looks like it’s only us fans who are not happy, maybe the coach needs come out and explain to us. We are so ordinary now & everyone feels like they have chance against. The team is not entirely bad but there are elements that need be fixed soon.