Johannesburg - For Mamelodi Sundowns a victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek this weekend could go a long way towards sealing a place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
As Group B leaders Sundowns are ahead of Zamalek and Nigerian outfit Enyimba FC, who are second and third respectively. Only two teams can advance to the semi-finals. As things stand Sundowns and Zamalek, who both have three points, look set to advance as Enyimba have no points. Three points in Cairo could be sufficient for Pitso Mosimane and his men to get closer to realising their dream of winning the Champions League. Though the scales are tilting in the favour of the seven-time PSL champions, Mosimane is refusing to put the cart before the horse.
“It’s good to say that we can wrap it but we have to do the work first. Confidence says it’s doable and possible but you have to understand that we are playing a strong team. We are playing the mighty Zamalek. It’s not going to be that easy. The good thing is that we broke the ice with North Africans. We won in Setif. It will be nice if we get three points but if we get one it’s not bad but the best thing is to get three points. You don’t want to wait. We have to tread carefully a little bit,” said Mosimane.
Prior to beating Enyimba at home, Sundowns had won 2-0 against Algerian side ES Setif but the result was declared null and void when CAF disqualified Setif following a pitch invasion by their supporters. Mosimane continues to draw from that experience and performance. He wants his men to be cautious and not give away set-pieces.
“Zamalek have changed their coach. It’s a local coach now. The tactics have not changed. I watched them under the former coach and under the local coach. Typical game of North Africans. Avoid set-pieces. They have big boys. They have got proper technique and you know they deliver. We have got to be on top of our game and stop making silly mistakes. Avoid the corners that we conceded against Enyimba. That brings more stress and pressure,” said the former Bafana Bafana coach.
“They have got three quality players. The one on the right is very good on one against one. They have got a No 3 like Esrom Nyandoro. He starts all the play. They have a striker like (Thamsanqa) Gabuza who is quick and powerful. Those are important players we need to look after. Those are dangerous players but they have got a good team. It’s Zamalek.”
Mosimane is adamant that his men will handle the hostility and pressures that come with playing in the continental tournament, where all sorts of tactics are used to unsettle opponents.
“The guys are okay. What’s good is that no-one is afraid. I know. No one is going to be afraid of Zamalek. The challenge is that they need to understand the style of play, the noise and the pressure. They know what to expect. We have a direct flight. We are in Cairo and the hotels are okay there. It’s Joburg. There’s no excuses.”
Mosimane is banking on the trickery, pace and skills of his players to overcome the five-time Africa Champions.
“They are physically strong but we are quicker. You know North Africans are like Europeans. Just move away from set pieces and aerial balls. We should be able to do well. We need those goals that Khama (Billiat) scored one v one. He takes two big boys, he turns in and out. It’s very difficult for them. That kind of game they can’t deal with it,” he added.
The Star