AHEAD of this afternoon’s CAF Champions League quarter-final home leg against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, coach Pitso Mosimane – the Mamelodi Sundowns coach – has urged his players to stick to their DNA.
Given that Al Ahly are the eight-time winners of the competition, they come with experience and the know-how of being the most successful club on the continent. But Sundowns don’t expect to be pushovers in their own backyard, Atteridgeville’s Lucas Moripe Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm.
“It’s a big club,” Mosimane said. “We have to tread carefully, but what is important is to play the same way we have played against Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) here in the group stages. The same way we played against Lobi Stars (Nigeria) and ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast). That’s what we need to do.”
The Red Devils, as Al Ahly are affectionately known by their fanatic fans – the ultras – finished top of Group D, while Sundowns managed a runners-up spot behind Wydad in Group A to be pitted against the Egyptians in the quarter-finals.
As a result of being the table toppers, Al Ahly had what can be seen as an advantage to host the second leg.
“But we have to take the game to them. They are smart, very highly technical with good tactics and they are a team with big, top individual players. I am speaking about Junior Ajayi, Ramadan Sobhi and Ayman Ashraf,” said the coach.
“They have good movements. They look after the ball, they are a perfect team in terms of play. But even a perfect team, like Manchester City, there are games that they lose. You don’t win them all.”
Indeed Al Ahly can be beaten, although Sundowns’ record against them doesn’t paint a pretty picture – something coach Mosimane wants to change. The last time the two sides met was in the preliminary round of the Champions League back in 2007, and the Red Devils were 4-2 aggregate winners.
“They did lose to Simba in the group stages and we get motivation from that,” Mosimane said with confidence.
“When they played against AS Vita they also lost. So I think it is doable, it’s possible. You know they always say it looks impossible until somebody does it. I believe Sundowns is a good team. If we play the way we always play in the Champions League at home…I mean we scored two against Wydad, but let’s be honest, it could have been four. We scored three against ASEC, we scored three against Lobi Stars. I am not saying we will score three against Al Ahly, but if we play the same way and we believe then why not? I’d love to.”
Mosimane also confirmed that Anthony Laffor will be unavailable for the massive clash because he has to go for a knee surgery. He said Phakamani Mahlambi, a former Al Ahly striker, had also returned to training just in time to face his old teammates having missed the Absa Premiership encounter against Orlando Pirates on Monday due to a hamstring strain.
Shapa! Sundowns, this is what we are capable of doing,not that we criticize but this is the team that should show up,no team can touch us..coach Pisto thank u…and ur team even if we lost but playing like that we won’t complain..
what a game Masandawana, thank you very much to the super technical team led by the Super coach, The medical team, the fitness team and the foot soldiers, it could have being 10 nil but i am very happy with this performance. Phakamani talked about us scoring 3 or more goals and he wished to score and his wish was made true. @ DALOM wished that Al Ahly beat us 5 zero and the opposite happened. Let the boys go to Egypt and beat them in their own back yard.in this team “I BELIEVE”.
Lets give credit where its due,well done the team and technical staff especial to the coach who subsituted on time even though we’re winning.In Egypt lets not park the bus because the best way of defending is to attack,Kby forever.
It is said when 2 elephants fight its the grass that suffers most but today an elephant from Egypt suffered a fatal blow at Atteridgeville.I doubt it will have ever rise even in Cairo.If we reach the final Mshishi wil b crowned the African footballer of the year.But what a performance from the whole team.But the Arab players r having this nonsense of resorting to brutality&anger if the results r not going their way.Sirino&Onyango were almost victims to their brutality..Lets go now to Cairo&humiliate them in front of their fans to show that we have disreppect for these North Africans.Casablanca u r next&Mazembe here we come for u in the finals Kaboyelo everywhere we go….
A master piece performance. What you believe in wil always happen. What you see at the backk of your mind is the truth overshadowed and if you believe it happens. I believed for a 5 nil victory, many people thought l am too ambitious so m happy,Congratulations to the Technical team, the team and the Yellow nation at large. We are a step closer to the semi finals, we keep our focus , thats life,we go there on a safe foot, and we go there to play .Our intentions are clear, we are all focused, we are all determined.Actually we can only build on where we left. The same attitude, focus against Al Alhy should apply locally.That is the right mindset, a victory after such a preparation gives you so much reason to celebrate.
I hope the Al alhaly guys wont fight among themselves in the plain on thier way back to Egypt. Sure the they will have to be couch by the new manger in the second round
When we play our normal attacking football. No team can stop us. I am happy with the performance of the whole team. The atmosphere at the stadium was out of this well. The wife enjoyed herself so much that she decided to do the honorable thing and join the sundowns family. It was good to see Vila back. We r going to need his experience going forward.
Super Performance from the planning and analyzing of the Super technical team led by the Super tactical Coach Supported by the Super fitness team and the Super Medical team, comprising of the Super skillful players who are backed by the Super vocal Supporters of the beautiful yellow nation, the battle lines are drawn they were so shocked with the score line and they were out played. Ka Bo Yellow. The combination play is getting closer and closer Pasop.