Tembo tries to lift spirits for Leopards clash

Michaelson Gumede

Kaitano Tembo (right) needs his SuperSport United side to remain focused and not be derailed by the upcoming MTN8 final against Cape Town City.

United went down 3-1 at the hands of Orlando Pirates on Saturday, and will now have to shift their focus to Black Leopards, whom they welcome to the Lucas Moripe Stadium this Sunday.

Tembo’s side face Benni McCarthy’s City in the MTN8 final on September 29.

“We are coming off a 3-1 defeat and everyone knows we are not invincible – we lose games and it is normal.

“It is about how we pick ourselves up and we have to focus on the next game.

“The defeat against Pirates came at the right time and at the wrong time as well – the wrong time because it was too soon after we beat them in the MTN8 (quarterfinals), it was still fresh in their minds,” said Tembo.

“What is important is to do well in the next game ... we have to shut down thoughts about the final and make sure we remain focused, because we need the points to keep up with the other teams, especially those who are above us,” he added.

Leopards themselves are coming off a 1-0 defeat by Steve Komphela’s Bloemfontein Celtic, but Tembo says Lidoda Duvha are always tricky customers.

“They are a very difficult team to play against. They always push their wingbacks high up and always have numbers in the opposition’s half.

“It will be difficult to contain them but we have to work a little more on our pressing,” said Tembo, before he went on to lament how the international break slowed progress at Matsatsantsa A Pitori, as a number of players were away on international duty.

“We were kind of disbanded because we had about seven players away.

“Leopards are a different game now and we are motivated to get maximum points before the final,” said Tembo.