Mokwena well prepared for Congo hostility

RULANI Mokwena moved to eliminate any thoughts that his penchant for sharing detailed information about the opposition during pre-match media conferences was a show-off ploy.

The Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach was quick to point out that his intimate knowledge of the opposition does not necessarily equate to his team having the upper hand.

“Preparation eliminates fear,” Mokwena said in response to a Congolese journalist’s suggestion that the coach’s insights into TP Mazembe meant Sundowns were due to win today’s CAF Champions League Group A clash in Lubumbashi.

“Everything I say (about the opposition) is based on preparation,“he said, before stressing how good Mazembe were in recent African Football League and Champions League matches, and in their domestic league.

“We understand the number one thing to do is to be prepared because coming here can be daunting. The atmosphere, the hostility that’s created by the supporters means that we’ve got to make sure that we are well prepared because preparation eliminates fear.

“So it is not about knowing how to beat Mazembe, but it is about perfoming to beat Mazembe.”

And there is every reason to expect Sundowns, the 2016 Champions League winners, to beat Mazembe, having won on their last visit to the DRC. The multiple South African champions were 1-0 winners at Mazembe back in March 2021.

Mokwena is aware, though, that they are facing a completely different side to that one.

“Mazembe have changed a lot and they’ve changed to a much younger team. Only two players are still in the team from the last time (we played them). The rest of the team is completely different. Traore (Fily) and Fofana (Cheick) are 22 and 19 years old, so they are a much younger team. Ibrahim Keita, who comes from Mauritania, is also very young,” he said.

The change, though, does not diminish Mazembe’s potency or danger as an opponent, Mokwena believes.

“We come here knowing we are playing against five-time Champions

League champions on their own home ground, so we expect a very difficult game.”

He referred to their domestic form to support his view that Sundowns are in for a tough outing.

“We play against a very good team doing very, very well in the domestic game, having won 11 games and sitting second on the table.”

Sundowns, though, are out there for maximum points to add to the three they won in their opening match against Mauritania’s Nouadhibou.

“We come with the Mamelodi Sundowns’ spirit, a competitive spirit that is here to win, but also one that is governed by principles that speak of respect and humility for the opposition,” Mokwena said.

That respect and humility for the opposition are evidenced by the thorough preparation that Mokwena and his technical team put in ahead of every match they play.