Chiefs could help Sundowns prepare for Champions League redemption

PRETORIA: Mamelodi Sundowns plan to use their friendly against Kaizer Chiefs tomorrow as a pick-me-up before they return to the Caf Champions League next week.

The Brazilians take on Amakhosi in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup at FNB Stadium with kick-off at 3pm. The Tshwane side go into this match following their 1-0 loss to AS TogoPort on Tuesday in Lome. They are bottom of Group C with two points from three matches. Sundowns are only three points behind Wydad Casablanca and Horoya who are first and second respectively with five points each.

“This group is open and that’s what gives us hope,” Ngcongca said. “A win for us (on Friday next week in the return leg against AS TogoPort at home) will take us to five points. We don’t know what will happen between Wydad and Horoya (who face each other in Morocco on Saturday next week). We just have to win our game. That’s all. No beautiful football. We just need to win the game.”

Sundowns aren’t as lethal as when they won the 2016 Champions League, with two or more goals in winning all their home games.

This clash with Amakhosi will offer them a competitive edge in preparation for AS Togo-Port’s visit. Pitso Mosimane is likely to field mostly players who didn’t feature in Togo and mix them up with new signings while Chiefs will go for their strongest team as they look to impress new coach Giovanni Solinas.

“This is a very important match for us,” Ngcongca said. “We have to show our character and bounce back from our loss to Togo-Port by beating Kaizer Chiefs. This will test our character. It’s a good opportunity for the new players to show our supporters what they are all about.”

This match will offer a glance of what could come when the sides open the Absa Premiership against each other at Loftus on August 4.

“This game will not be a true reflection of what will happen in the league,” Ngcongca said. “The league match will be totally different. The players will be cautious coming into this game on Saturday because they won’t want to get injured because this will be a long season for both teams. People mustn’t read much into the results from this game. They’ll visit us at Loftus in our first league game. Our home games will be crucial this season. We have to make Loftus our slaughterhouse.”