Mamelodi Sundowns will be back in action on Friday night for their return fixture against Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League showdown at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
Masandawana head into the Group C encounter following a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Sudanese side last Friday at Loftus Versfeld. In what will be a critical match between the two sides who currently hold the two slots on the summit of the Group C log, coach Miguel looked ahead of the meeting.
“We played a good match at home against a strong opponent. It was a tricky match because I think the team played well enough to collect the points that we got in the end, but we were punished for the mistakes we made,” the coach said.
“We are excited to play here, especially with the good conditions. Let’s hope we have the spirit to fight until the end because we have been afforded the conditions to do that.”
The Group Stages of the Champions League have entered the second round, and with what has been deemed the hardest group this season, the Brazilians will look to finish strong and qualify for the next round. According to coach Miguel, that will only happen if his charges continue to fight for positive results until the very end.
“We must show strong commitment. We didn’t travel this far to just come and not take the game to the level we have to take it. I think both teams understand the importance of this game in terms of the final group stage,” he said.
“We have a Champions League Group Stage to finish. We want to obviously want to proceed in the competition, while also preparing for the Nedbank Cup. So, this is a challenge for a Mamelodi Sundowns coach and players,” the coach concluded.
Mamelodi Sundowns will clash with Al Hilal on Friday Night at the AmahoroStadium. Kick-off has been scheduled for 21H00, live on SuperSport TV.
Last season Manqoba was fired because of the same situation we’re in now,I want to see the management decision if he was fired because he is an African.The whole technical team should just leave because they are doing nothing to help the team.I mean even primary kids could see that Santos was not in the game from the first whistle until he was replaced in the minute 82,Reisinho was replaced placed when he’s playing well.The less said about Onyango the better,the guy should be teaching young players but he’s the one who needs to be taught football at age 40.You can’t foul a player when he’s going wide, can’t try to use his feet now when he’s terrible at his peak.It’s like studying very hard for exams after you have finished writing.. said it before the game that,we are mobile with Adams and Mkhulise as central midfield.Last night the only player who was willing to carry the team was Sales.Reading from the body language I don’t think players are happy with the way coach is playing them.Allende,Mokoena,Mudau,Santos were not in the game,even Morena played nonsense after the was introduced,Lunga was horrible,he’s like Onyango they lack football brains.My opinion, I think the coach lost control over the team.Other teams play for goals and Downs plays for ball possession in our own half. Have said it many times,you can’t score goals when you play most of the time in your own half and you can’t concede goals when you play in the opposition half.The so called experienced players are teaching young players negative football.If you watch our disci team they play fast forward football and when they are promoted they are taught nonsense.If you want to hate football watch Williams,Kekana and Khoza play at the back you would swear there are no posts in the field,even young Sibiya,against Orbit he was taking players on and provided good crosses and come next game he’s playing backwards.Truly this is the most horrible coach in the history of Sundowns.To the useless management,you can never turn lemon into an orange.Cardoso will forever be la lemon.
A foreign coach has never been successful in this club Masandawana, the club tried in the past to no success, The President took a bold step by appointing Pitso who successfully turned the team into a winning machinery.I guess what makes sense for now under these circumstances, is for the Chairman to emulate the direction his father took, just for the sake of saving the ship before it sinks deeper.Tebza plays alone in that midfield, he does the extra work because those around him cannot mark, can only play when they have the ball, Santos and Reisihno are overated.In that midfield for us to win every ball , we need both Tebza and Aubaas as defensive fielders and have Mshishi and Adams as offensive players because Adams can also play there and up front you start Shalulile with either Leon or Reynors. Methews, Sales and Allende to come as subs.The back four is currently leaky, because Mvala is not there, until we look for two speedy centre backs that can play better than Mvala and Kekana, then the sundowns defence should remain the one Bafana Bafana used in the Afcon before the last one. Jupido does not master the art of playing as a centre back instead a wise coach can try him as a defensive fielder because he can also pass the ball.Khosa is worse because he lacks speed ,he also can be tried as a defensive fielder. Ndamane also lacks speed and also does not master the art of playing there hence they are leaking goals currently in their partnership with Jupido.Go bring Matuludi from Polokwane, he is a good right wing back but I belieave he can play as a centre back also,he has a lot of football intelligence.A well balanced team must have players with speed in every department just like Pirates.
Let us pray for better results Masandawana because the way these guys play gives us no hope.At least if we do not win the Champions league , let us achieve the finalist or semi finalist status because we need to build up points for the next club world cup in 4years otherwise if we continue like this ,there will be no club world cup for us Masandawana.Something must be done.
You must just save us the embarrassment, and crush out of CAF!!!
Sundowns is no where near a CAF Champion material, losing to the likes of Al Hilal that we used to beat with ease.
This Sundowns Management has gotten used to mediocrity 😏😏