Coach Rulani and his men are anticipating a fierce ES Tunis side when they meet for the first leg of the CAF Champions League on Saturday evening. The Tunisian-based uniform will be hosting the first stanza of the semifinals and it will be important for the Brazilians to get it right before heading back home for the second round.
“We expect a very difficult Esperance side. We will have to be at our very best to give ourselves a chance to win. I had a couple of minutes to walk on the pitch and fortunately I had Teboho Mokoena who is an expert more than me. When I asked what he thinks he said it’s a very good pitch and probably rates it as one of the best pitches we have seen in the Champions League so far,” Coach Rulani stated.
Ahead of what will be a laborious CAFCL encounter, the Masandawana head coach is upbeat that his charges will emerge victorious, with the considerable amount of work they have put in preparing for this match.
“I think the number of hours we have spent going through games and the work we have done shows me that we have a very good side that we will be playing against. Amanullah Memmiche even though he’s 19, he’s incredible with his football. They’ve got Yessine Meriah and Houssem Tka, the two centre backs and they both had incredible journeys at the AFCON. The sides are also very aggressive with the wingers, with incredible players. We have a tough task in keeping a clean sheet and preventing the chances for the opposition. It’s going to be very difficult, especially with the quality that they have. I can also say we can score goals and win the game even though I know it’s going to be very difficult because of a very high-quality defence in the opposition. However, there is still a possibility to score and win away from home, for sure,” he confidently stated.
What Coach Rulani highlighted was important for him, is ensuring that the players are aware of whom they are representing in every game they play. He went on to give credence to them for continuously displaying outstanding performances even with a mammoth schedule of back-to-back matches in the different competitions.
“I think I have to give credit to the players because we’ve got a good group of players who are great to work with. They understand the responsibility and the magnitude of the task of representing Mamelodi Sundowns, and that’s the most important thing. I think without that and whatever techniques you have as a coach, it becomes very difficult if the players are not receptive and understanding the goal and the need for motivation to try and win every game, which is the responsibility they carry.”
Mamelodi Sundowns will meet ES Tunis away from home for the first leg of the CAFCL semifinals on Saturday evening at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Tunisia. Kick-off is set for 21H00.
Let himself score those goals…why nje labantu bangadlaliswa..emini since they struggle….wena coach…nihlulwa one striker..at the front…is he Halaard…our wing back were stuck at the back besaba one striker..and he scored
Masandawana apologise niyaphila…. again maseko is not better than Sirino…..bafwe2..owaziyo where is Nassir…yeyyi..uphukile we loaned him somewhere
It takes an idiot to watch the same movie several times and expect different results,that’s Rulani.We saw the second half that if we play the
Sundowns football no team can match and when we play Rulani’s football we struggle against all the teams we play against. Sometimes I wish he gets sick for someone to be on the bench and we’ll break from his useless ball possession.If only we played the first half like we played the second half we could have easily won that game.
There was a period when Sundowns was paying Brian Baloyi bt at the same time Baloyi was providing information 2 Kaizer Chiefs.Is Rhulani really loyal 2 Sundowns.Why Rhulani is seemingly is sabotaging us deliberately.?Tebogo &Shalulile started against Swallows then Tebogo got injured &Shalulile played no part against Esperance &came on the dying minutes.Mendieta &Sirino were left at home just 2 accommodate Maseko&Morena who provide nothing but ridiculousness on the field play.Rhulani never wanted 2 work with ppl who won the treble 2gether only 2 find subjecting us 2 this thing of winning the league.Lots of players aren’t fatigued bt is playing the same ppl even if its a league match when none is challenging us at the summit.Sundowns management plz can u loan Rhulani 2 Amatuks maybe he will come with a matured refreshed mind.
Downs4ever nawe..Mnfana….I agree with you…this ego of coaches proving a point that they assembled their own squad and won trophies..is stupid and un nesesary arrogance..iyanyanyisa…Jingles had the same problem what a shame… another arrogance is ball possition statistics..is nonsense…. later you can score.. even me I can pass the ball to the next person.. whether we gain advantage by doing it..is not my business…we all know professional football don’t encourage man to man…but closing spaces and transition when you have the ball … what a shame…so no matter how good you are but..stick to the instructions.. please ask Shasha when was the last time he got a through pass from middle field players… example Allende is good in not losing the ball why he always pass the ball to the next person whether backwards or sideways.. never forward…Rhiberio.. runs or caries the ball even when there is no need…I love them but..they never dangerous.ro the opposition..like Sailor..or Mandieta Gaston Mshishi.. or Shasha!… what else can I say…..best team with back passes..