Mamelodi Sundowns will get their CAF Champions League campaign underway when they host the Democratic Republic of Congo’s AS Maniema Union in their opening Group B match on Tuesday evening at Loftus Versfeld.
Bafana Ba Style qualified for the Champions League group stages after defeating Eswatini side Mbabane Swallows 8-0 on aggregate in the second preliminary round. As they prepare to return to the continental stage, meeting their opponent for the third time ever, coach Manqoba Mgqithi looked ahead to the midweek fixture.
“It’s going to be a very tough match. Not many people know Maniema Union, but fortunately, we have played them before, I think in their inception. The fact that they knocked out Angolan-side Pedro de Luanda out of the competition already tells you they are a very good team. They are very good on set-pieces and have good strikers with a hustle and bustle. They also have very speedy wingers and are very physical. We are expecting a very tough match against a team that is very physical and will put us under a lot of pressure,” the coach stated.
Following their recent loss in the cup final at the weekend, coach Manqoba stated that his charges are focusing on returning to their best, and the Champions League is the right place to do that. He looks forward to seeing his side converting the many chances they create.
“I think we have adopted a way of chance creation, not just for the Champions League, but also to try and improve our conversions. We have been playing well, but we have not been creating a lot of chances. Heading to this game, we have a huge responsibility to try and maximise the number of chances we create before even going deeper in trying to be a little clinical on our attacks,” he said.
Since last lifting the CAF Champions League silverware in 2016 and coming very close to lifting it in recent seasons, coach Manqoba has insisted that it’s important his side gets it right this year.
“This is our bread and butter. We have a big responsibility, and we can’t afford to falter this one. We have a big responsibility to our supporters, board, ourselves and our families because it’s a tournament we have been trying to win. We will have to push very hard to get to that level where we can get the team to the last match of the tournament and see what will happen from there,” he concluded.
Mamelodi Sundowns will host AS Maniema Union on Tuesday evening in the group stages of the CAFCL at Loftus Versfeld. Kick-off is scheduled for 18H00.
Pls coach just for once field Keagan Johannes,Kodisang and Mkhulise those players are on Downs payroll Allende must sit on grandstand,lastly don’t be afraid to tell Ribeiro to share the ball we are gatvol with his attitude of being selfish and wants to dribble all the players on the field.
Mngqithi can b a joke sometimes I mean really who’s better than Mkhulise bcoz this Allende is just playing redundant football.Im wondering again why Khoza isn’t a regular starter and we r busy chasing Jayden Adams for what really.Keegan Johannes was a defender on a daily basis bt now frozen at home..I mean this Sales fellow???Hay hay who’s scouting players on youtube leaves a lot 2 b desired. We need an aggressive striker not this weakling.Ighodaro is better than Shalulile &Sales,bt needs supply from Sundowns. But whoever is thinking that we must buy these South Americans r the ones 2 play 4 Sundowns must have a better look again.Is this the material that’s going 2 bring home champions league?
I don’t know if is the coach or players yoooh im disappointed
Guys u still believe Manqoba can produce better result no way that guy got no coaching skill no technics I can hear u try by all to protect him if he continues Sundowns will never be in knock out stage
Manqoba is good for nothing we need to be honest, I doubt this Sales is a striker, he knows football but I think he used him wrongly, Allende need a bench as well for few games, Manqoba must stop dividing his dressing room, if the is a matter he must engage with management.. And our south african player they must stop being useless and they must know that they in Mamelodi Sundowns for working and for their salaries, remember they will play only few years then it will be finished with them but Sundowns will be there for the next 50 years, eventual they will want to come back to work as coaches, they must protect their intergret, their names, coaches will come and go, same with players.