GRAND PRIZE AWAITS ‘VETERAN’ MODISE
MAMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is confident the Brazilians will return from Egypt as African champions because of the job they did at home.
Sundowns demolished fivetime African champions Zamalek 3-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
The Brazilians now need to finish the job in Alexandria on Sunday night at Borg El-Arab Stadium to become only the second team in the country to win the premier club competition on the continent, after Orlando Pirates did so in 1995.
“Zamalek must score four (unanswered) goals to beat us, because even at 3-3 (on aggregate) we can still come back on penalties,” Mosimane said.
Sundowns arrived in Egypt yesterday and were due to start preparing for Zamalek today, he said.
Suspended Wayne Arendse would not be included, and Ivorian Soumahoro Bangaly was likely to take his place as centreback. That defence would need to be solid because the White Knights would put pressure on them from the first minute, trying to overturn the 3-0 deficit.
But Sundowns would not sit back, said Mosimane. They would exploit the space Zamalek left behind in search of four unanswered goals.
“If we absorb the pressure, then they’ll start to make desperate movements,” he said.
“They’ll try to push everyone forward and we have the speed to punish them when they do that. (Zamalek centreback) Ali Gabr can’t play on a high line and push with Khama (Billiat) next to him. (Hlompho) Kekana will put the ball in the right areas when they open up.”