“We Have to Play Better Than We Did in South Africa to Get a Good Result in Cairo”- Coach Rulani

Mamelodi Sundowns will be back on the touchline against Al Ahly in Cairo for the second leg of the semi-finals in the African Football League on Wednesday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.

Masandawana enjoyed a clean sweep over their opponents in the first leg at home and will be looking to finish the story with a victory that will see them through the finals. Ahead of the African Derby in Cairo, Coach Rulani Mokwena said he expects his men to display a performance better than the one they displayed at home.

“I said to the players that it’s only half time. We know that we are playing a very good side with a great pedigree in the African continent, particularly in club competitions. We know that we have to play well, if not better than we did in South Africa, to get a good result in Cairo. We show a lot of respect to our opponents and we always approach every game with a lot of humility. That’s exactly what I said to our players,” he said.

Like he usually states, Coach Rulani believes this is a new game, even though the two sides met a few days ago. The Bafana Ba Style coach stated that how their counterparts play the game will determine the kind of respond and talent his side will bring in the pitch.

“When we start the game as 0-0, we first get information based on the starting line-up. For example, in the first half in South Africa, Mohammed Hany started right-back but then Akram Tawfik came as substitute. The dynamics of the right then changed completely. Percy Tau then moves from left to right which changed the dynamics completely. Salah Mohsen starts instead of Kahraba, for example, and then the dynamics changed completely,” he stated.

“So, it depends on Al Ahly, how they start and what we see. If they start with the different dynamics, we will have to respond and deal with the game the way the opposition is trying to present the game to us. The most important thing is I hope there are three good teams on match day,” he continued.

Mamelodi Sundowns will go head-to-head with Al Ahly in the African Derby, for the first African Football League final spot, on Wednesday evening at the Cairo International Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 20H00.