MORE PRESSURE
Sundowns prepare for tough Al Ahly matches
It was always important for us to fight to win these catch-up matches because we could see the pressure was mounting
Mamelodi Sundowns mentor Manqoba Mngqithi is relieved that the Brazilians’ domestic league fixture backlog is now a thing of the past as they head into their two-legged Caf Champions League quarterfinal against the Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Sundowns’ 1-0 win over TS Galaxy on Sunday was their 26th Dstv Premiership game, meaning they’ve now played an equal number of games as most sides in the league.
Peter Shalulile scored the goal that proved the difference at the Mbombela Stadium.
“It was always important for us to fight to win these catch-up matches because we could see the pressure was mounting, and there are some important matches coming up in the Champions League,’’ Mngqithi said.
“It’s important that, during the stress of the Champions League, we’re almost there in terms of getting the number of points we’re looking for in the league.’’
Downs’ first leg against Al Ahly is set for Cairo on Saturday before they host the Egyptians, who are coached by the club’s ex-mentor, Pitso Mosimane, in Tshwane on May 22.
The Chloorkop side expect to have their star, Themba Zwane, back against the Red Devils.
Zwane was stretchered off early in their 2-0 win over Maritzburg United last Wednesday and also missed the trip to Mbombela at the weekend.
“It looks like he [Zwane] will be able to play the next match in Egypt and we’re hopeful that everything goes according to plan.
“It [his injury] never really looked serious,’’ Mngqithi said.
“We had to be a little bit cautious in making sure that we didn’t aggravate it; that’s why we took him out early.
“It was never really a tear but probably a strain that could easily have resulted in a tear had he continued with the match.’’
Downs sit comfortably top of the table with a seven-point lead, needing just two wins from their four remaining fixtures to defend their title.
Even so, Mngqithi has downplayed that their fourth championship on the trot is now in sight.
“Our focus is not on smelling it [the title] or getting it. “Our focus is on our process. “[At Galaxy] we were playing our first match of our last circle and we’re happy that we got maximum points.
“And in the next four games we’re still expected to get probably a minimum of nine points
— that would make us very happy with the circle,’’ the Downs coach said.