If Mamelodi Sundowns really debunked the ‘myth’ that their north African counterparts are harder to beat, then Wednesday’s CAF Champions League group stage clash at home to Zamalek should be easy pickings.
Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach, used last week’s arrival press conference - the Brazilians having travelled to Egypt a week ago and come back with maximum points after beating Zamalek 2-1 at the Petro Sport Stadium - to tell Bafana Bafana mentor Shakes Mashaba that he need look no further than his players when choosing his squad.
Mosimane also declared that South African teams were ready to win a continental title.
Sundowns welcome Zamalek to the Lucas Moripe Stadium this time (7.30pm) and need just a single point to guarantee their place in the semi-finals.
If they are consistent and able to make it three out of three (excluding the 2-0 win over ES Setif of Algeria, a match that was annulled due to crowd trouble) then their final game against Nigeria’s Enyimba next month should be a dead-rubber.
“We were a lot more open against Zamalek than we were against Setif because our confidence was a little bit up,” said Mosimane.
“I liked that we were also fearless, and I have said it before - we are going to enjoy ourselves this year.
“I guess that motto has helped us mentally.
“We are also riding on the momentum of having won the league.
“I can’t remember the last time we lost.
“I think we have played 90 league matches and lost about 10 times.”
Although Mosimane and his men have always been clear about their desire to win the competition, the coach is right in pointing out that playing with almost zero pressure to go all the way has helped.
This is their second season in the Champions League after failing to get into the group stage last year having been knocked out by eventual winners TP Mazembe.
The Brazilians, by winning the domestic championship, have already secured their place in next year’s edition of Africa’s premier club tournament.
That is when they will really give it a go, Mosimane has said.
They have caught everyone by surprise, first making their way back into the competition after AS Vita Club were disqualified by CAF and then proving too much for ES Setif and Zamalek in their own backyard.
Sundowns also defeated Enyimba 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium late last month.
“We hope we don’t have to wake up from this dream. It looks like we have enough points, but mathematically we don’t,” the coach said.
“We don’t have to win on Wednesday as long as Zamalek beat Enyimba (on August 14), who I think will find it very difficult to win in Egypt.
“We have to be careful of thinking we have arrived and miss an opportunity to finish at the top of our group. We would like to finish at the top.
“I think we have found a way to play against north African teams and make it harder for them to beat us. - Sunday Independent
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