Themba Zwane does not want to get carried away too quickly, though Mamelodi Sundowns do have a 5-0 scoreline advantage to take with them to the return match against Al Ahly on Saturday evening.
‘Mshishi’, as the player is affectionately known, has said that it is important to be grounded and not think the job is completely done in their CAF Champions League quarter-final clash with the Egyptian side.
“We need to go there and fight,” he said. “That is the only way we can qualify. We shouldn’t think it is done. It is not over yet.”
The midfielder opened the scoring for Sundowns in last weekend’s memorable win at Lucas Moripe Stadium, with Wayne Arendse, Ricardo Nascimento, Gaston Sirino and Phakamani Mahlambi each getting a goal to put one foot in the semi-finals of the continental competition.
“Normally, teams like Al Ahly and Zamalek do not close at the back when they play away because they also want to score. So we knew they were going to be open. Our plan was to put the ball on the ground and play those one-twos so that we can penetrate them. We know that they are tall, that is why we avoided the crosses. We were penetrating with combination passes. I am happy that we managed to get five goals on the day.” He said he and his teammates did not expect the emphatic scoreline. “Honestly we did not, but we wanted to at least get three goals – not five,” said Zwane.
Al Ahly have already made it clear that they are going to try be on the front foot in their own backyard at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria. Kick-off is at 6pm local time here in SA.
“We know that they are going to come at us. We expect to be under pressure, but we are going to keep calm and try to play our football and try to get one or two goals,” Zwane said.
The Bafana Bafana midfielder revealed that he also wanted to get on the score sheet more regularly that he has been.
“I have put that pressure on myself. I need to take responsibility, obviously I am a senior player now and I need to take charge whenever I am on the pitch. I must try help (captain) Hlompho (Kekana),” he explained.
Zwane said Sundowns would be as determined to still go all out for a win without dwelling too much on what happened in the first leg.
“For me, personally, I think we need to play our game. We know they will come at us and they will be open at the back. So we have a strong attack and we can manage to get another two or three goals on the day.”
The Brazilians left for Cairo, Egypt earlier this week and will be hoping to return guaranteed of a place in the last four of the CAF Champions League and immediately prepare to host Tshwane rivals SuperSport United in an Absa Premiership derby on Wednesday, April 17.
If you can stick to your plan you will definitely play in a full quiet stadium. Coming hard on you with long range shorts will just call for your swiftness and alertness to thwart every second ball. We can even imagine the pressure ,but you can endure it in 90 minutes, those gaps behind with your speed will confuse them too, its not only them with advantage here, pressure takes out the advantage on them, it will shock again to learn that the game with you there records another record. Believe in yourselves,believe in your plan, believe in your technical team because we believe in all of you. Go and fight, its a final, valuable things are hidden, they come enveloped in not so good looking covers, this is one such, its your time Masandawana! History must the be written anew, records must be broken, its time to unleash your greatness!KBY
I know u guys wont sit at the back and allow them to come at us , if u want to be the best , beat the best and bear in mind that u guys are creating your own legacy that will never be forgotten in the history of sundowns brand , kby i remain
I know you’ll make it makwedini ! Kubooooo
Good lucky masandawana a respectable score line will get us through. God is with us at these dificilt moment and He is on our side.
All the Best Masandawana, books ought to be re -written, the Egyptian powerhouse you see today you shall see it no more this season, it’s about time and opportunity, that’s what l believe, our chance we are given, it does not matter how fierce the opponent can be, it begin with the first sign we saw and witnessed, we only have to be courageous and fearless, execute the plan ,and definitely we have a plan for this game. Tricks wont help, and l am also happy there will be a referee whom l have seen executing his duty with all respect. I also believe the assistants understand the nature of the game, we must be calm and absorb the pressure like never before, keeping the ball to ourselves is a smart way of winning and burying our chances, doing everything as a team, also individual brilliance will be called for, that team is only good with the ball, they enjoy being marked, they can protect the ball but marking and chasing for marking is a hard one on them, so playing our game would be an advantage avoiding unnecessary set piece on their third half, l just cant wait for the evening, we want to finish off our celebrations. Kby, Fear Not! Only be courageous!
Well said Member, They will run at us because they are under pressure, let us catch them on the breaks and be clinical early two goals will kill this game, Remember let us play the game we played last time, also remember the rest of the country will be waiting for you. you only need 45 minutes to silence the whole stadium by scoring 3 goals and turn their supporters to support you, then the rest of the game will be easy. you did it before and it is not the first time you play in north Africa. may the mighty God the God of the poor bless you and give all the strength and wisdom you will need for this game, we are behind you boys and remember we luv you. KBY
Thank you to the technical team, the fitness team,the medical team and the foot soldiers, Well done boy now the semi final.ka bo yellow i remain.
Iam amazed by our players who have grown so bold,its wonderful to watch these players doing their job. They are fearless and not intimidated by the vociferous crowds in Africa. Well done masandawana amahle,you make us proud..Next to be disciplined is Wydad,this team has frustrated us on several occasions but not this time,we are Mamelodi Sundowns. All the best soldiers of football,love u so much.My blood is yellow
Well done Masandawana, these games are smart, you win once for two games and its over, there is a game plan for every game,Waydad must know this time its not going to be easy, they meet a team who want to get to the final. They leap frogged us at group stages and they know us fully well, they owe us big time, its high time we humble them. Sundowns is in the business of re-writing the books, and we are ready to embrace the new piece of information into the records. KbY