Mosimane’s troops ready to battle it out in Champions League
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS will be hoping to open their preliminary first round of the Caf Champions League (CAFCCL) on a high note when they meet Leones Vegetariones at Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyin Stadium in Equatorial Guinea this afternoon (at 4pm).
Coming into this encounter, Sundowns are looking to make up for the previous campaign following their exit during the group stage. Last season, the Brazilians had themselves to blame as they easily lost points away from home.
Having won the competition back in 2016, one could assume they were aware that all they needed to do in the competition is to “grind for results” instead of playing “pretty football”. Coach Pitso Mosimane, pictured, has always made it clear that their main target is to challenge for honours through the Absa Premiership and the continental showpiece.
However, that has come at the expense of losing out of the MTN8 and the Telkom Knockout. Although finance is not the problem for the Brazilians owned by mining magnate and billionaire Patrice Motsepe but Mosimane also understood that the cash incentive that they’d receive through domestic competitions would also go a long way in assisting his troops.
In essence they have to make sure that they steer themselves to victory this season.
On paper, they have the squad to challenge for both the Premier League and Caf Champions League, but they have to avoid being too complacent especially in the final third. So far, playmaker Gaston Sirino has been their back-bone as he’s led from the front with vital assists and goals.
Following a slow start to the Absa Premiership, Sirino revived Sundowns’ season as they currently sit fourth on the log standings with 18 points in 10 matches - while adrift from pacesetters Orlando Pirates with just three points and with three games in hand.
Another morale booster for Mosimane’s charges would be that of striker Jeremy Brockie who returned to scoring ways in the league encounter against Free State Stars following his one-year-barren run for Sundowns since his move from SuperSport United in January.
While the return leg for this encounter is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4, Sundowns know that it will be naïve of them to undermine the Guineans, who they arguably have little knowledge of.
This encounter will also serve as the curtain raiser for their Tshwanederby where they’ll meet arch-rivals SuperSport at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday, December 2.