Cape Town - Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba will be joining Mamelodi Sundowns in Egypt this weekend for Sunday night’s second leg Caf Champions League final against Zamalek.
Mashaba said in a SA Football Association (Safa) statement on Wednesday that he will be providing “moral support” to Masandawana after being invited to the team change room following their 3-0 victory in the first leg at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville last Saturday.
Sundowns will look to join Orlando Pirates as South Africa’s only winners of the continent’s most prestigious title. Pirates won it in 1995 and lost in the 2013 final, while Sundowns were also tripped up at the last hurdle in 2001.
But with a three-goal advantage from the first leg, Pitso Mosimane’s charges have a great opportunity to add the famous “gold star” to their jersey. Zamalek will be going for their sixth title, having lost just once in a final previously.
“It was a great gesture (to address the team last Saturday), and having spoken to coach Pitso in the presence of club president Patrice Motsepe, we agreed that I should accompany the team to Alexandria and give the boys moral support,” Mashaba said.
“This is good for the country, good for the national team and the entire football family will enjoy the general spin-offs from such a good showing.”
The match kicks off at 8.30pm on Sunday night at the Borg el-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, which is about a two-hour drive from Cairo.
@ashfakmohamed
Independent Media