Job Not Done Yet: Arendse

“The job is only half done, we have to finish it off in Egypt” Those were the stern words from towering defender Wayne Arendse, as Mamelodi Sundowns prepare for the CAF Champions League second leg match against Al Ahly in Alexandria.

Arendse, who also found the back of the net in the first leg added that Ahly should never be taken lightly just because of the 5-0 lead in this two-legged tie and that ‘The Brazilians’ should still go to Egypt to play their normal game.

“I’m not saying we should foolishly go all out attack in the second leg but the 5-0 scoreline does not mean we must go there to defend. We should still play our normal game and play positive football”

“It’s going to be tough though but very interesting because I feel we could have scored more goals at home had we buried all our chances. What’s more important though is the fact that we created these chances and I beleive we can still create more in Egypt because it’s still crucial for us to score atleast one goal away”

‘Rio’ as the player is affectionately known also praised the Sundowns technical team for the first-leg result and revealed that they watched a total of eight Al Ahly games prior to the match.

“When we saw that we drew Al Ahly in the quarterfinals, we all knew that it was going to be a tough game. We had to start right away and go through eight of their games and I feel the technical team really did a lot of work on the opposition and deserve all of the credit that’s coming their way”

“We took the game to them and that was the plan we worked on. During our preparations the technical team drummed it into our heads the importance of keeping a clean sheet and maintain ball possession, especially playing the first match at home”

17 Responses
  1. SAM Z MAHLASE

    WOW THAT’S POWERFUL RIO YOU GUYS MADE THE WHOLE DOWNS FAMILY VERY HAPPY PLS GO AND FINISH THE EGYPTIANS MASANDAWANA, REMEMBER IT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE UP UNTIL ITS DONE WE’RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY BRAVE SOLDIERS, KABO YELLOW. ???.SAM

  2. Bango

    Great words,the job is half done, it must be taken to completion this weekend. The pressure will also make them play not normal game, we must just score first as usual. The only way to defend a lead is by attacking and scoring more.KbY

  3. The best strategy is to use our speedy forwards like morena sereno maboe and lakay and hit them on counter and score goals. And use zwane and vilakazi in tge second half

  4. Bango

    The venue changed again, this was a blow, we just have to focus, these are mind games. If the guys remain focused its nothing at all, the must just keep the right mind set. It is possible to play for a win or draw, we can do it. KbY. Sundowns must cross that bridge safely, they must just prove to the world that it was not luck, not a fluke or a mere chance but they followed the plan well.

  5. Do nt concerd in
    first 15 minutes.
    they will be frustrated. Try to keep ball position
    as much as you can
    My only worry is
    that both of our
    centre back are slow
    We need to go for a win

  6. Bango

    Trying to change venues, times , days of play must not frustrate us, first leg, they postponed a set date to another of their choice , they traveled with the aim of arriving and doing the job fast, you see history sometime it can betray you, now the venue has changed again, what if they lose again on that venue? They have so much power to change things the way they want, but it must not deter us, as long as it is a normal lawn its fine. But 244km away from where they were initially allocated , its a mind game. The team has been turned into tourists in Egypt. its Ok!we will fight fire with fire says Pitso, l could see the fire in his eyes.

  7. Sunday Mahlangu

    Guys try to contain them when they push too deep because they need to score, Maboe and Morena will counter them.

  8. Bango

    A team of 25 , the least is all the players of sundowns, except Laffor and Ngoma who were to be included.

  9. That is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
    Brief but very accurate info… Many thanks for sharing
    this one. A must read article!