Coach Jerry Tshabalala is anticipating a tough encounter against Congo’s TP Mazembe as both teams clash in their final Group B fixture on Sunday.
The debutants from Congo started the continent’s premier women’s tournament with a 1-0 win over Egypt’s Wadi Degla before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens in their second group fixture.
With qualification from Group B still a possibility for all four teams in the group, Kappa believes TP Mazembe will be aiming to cause an upset.
“The group is wide open, and every team will be aiming to get maximum points to secure progression to the knockout phase. We are very much aware of the high stakes, and we face a team who have shown great fortitude in their debut performance at the tournament. We anticipate a very tough encounter, and we will be ready to leave it all again on the pitch, Coach Jerry stated.
On what to expect from TP Mazembe, Kappa stated that, “They are a very pacy side with quality wingers who can stretch teams. Therefore, we will need to be vigilant with our pressing across the pitch and be ready to finish off our chances when they come. They also have a solid goalkeeper; hence, we need to be clinical in the right areas to improve our chances of securing a place in the knock-out stage.”
Captain Zanele Nhlapho also believes the team is mentally ready for the clash against the Congolese.
“We are not underestimating any team in Morocco because the game is unpredictable, and we have seen some great football so far. The entire team has been training hard and the plan is to stamp our authority in the fixture against TP Mazembe. The encounter will not be an easy one but through hard work and determination, we are optimistic about our chances against them,” Zanele stated.
The match between Sundowns Ladies and Congo’s TP Mazembe will take place on Sunday, the 6th of November, at Stade de Marrakech. The kick-off time for the fixture is 21h00 (SAST).
