AmaZulu don’t fear TP Mazembe, says Benni
BENNI McCarthy and AmaZulu face one of their biggest tests yet when they square off against Congolese giants TP Mazembe in a Caf Champions League second preliminary round first leg clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium today.
Along with Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly, TP Mazembe are one of the most decorated teams in Africa, having won the Champions League five times, with their most recent success being in 2015.
Usuthu’s ambitious coach McCarthy is aware that his side will have to make the most of their home advantage ahead of the second leg, which will be played in challenging conditions at TP Mazembe’s home ground in Lubumbashi on Tuesday.
“We have to ensure that the home game is a positive one, as it will give us something to enter the DRC with and give us something to fight for,” McCarthy said. “We cannot slip up like we did against Nyasa Big Bullets, and had to go to Malawi to do the impossible. I think this time around, we have learnt from our mistakes, and we will make our home advantage count.”
Despite TP Mazembe having a far more decorated history in continental football than AmaZulu, McCarthy is clearly not going to approach the tie negatively or with a mentality that the Congolese side will be favourites.
“As a player, I never gave two monkeys about where you are from or what you have. I would think I’m equal or better than you. That is the belief I put in the players. I respect what you have done in the past, but it means nothing in the present,” he said.
AmaZulu made their historic first ever Champions League appearance in their first preliminary round tie against Malawian side Nyasa Big Bullets last month.
They were upset by Nyasa Big Bullets in Durban, before bravely turning around the tie in the second leg en route to a 3-2 aggregate win.
AmaZulu started the season in poor form and struggled in front of goal. However, they have been resurgent in recent weeks, amidst a return to form from striker Bongi Ntuli.
McCarthy is aware that his team can ill-afford to make mistakes against TP Mazembe like they did against Nyasa Big Bullets. “We could not have asked for a bigger opponent. They are a powerhouse in Africa. We have to respect their history. We will not fear anything, because we have passed the stage where we fear other teams. We respect them as a team, but we don’t fear them,” McCarthy said.