Rampant Sundowns will go for jugular against Zamalek in CAF showdown
Mamelodi Sundowns only need a draw to secure a place in the African Champions League semifinals but coach Pitso Mosimane's charges do not intend to take the foot off the pedal when they face Zamalek in Atteridgeville on Wednesday night.
Sundowns are set on maintaining the mentality that has seen them bag back-to-back victories in the continental tournament's group stages and they intend to pursue a win against Egyptians.
“Going forward the aim is still the same. We still want to make sure that we win our remaining games‚” Downs defender Thabo Nthethe said.
“The guys are focused on this upcoming game against Zamalek. There is no time for us to relax. We have been winning our games; we don’t want to drop the ball. We just want to continue winning because we know what we will get if we do that.”
The Brazilians sit pretty on top of the log in their three-team group with Egyptian side Zamalek and Nigerians Enyimba after beating both opponents.
In the 2-1 win against Zamalek in Cairo over a week ago‚ it was a misunderstanding between Nthethe and goalkeeper Denis Onyango that led to a goal by Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim.
Nthethe‚ who captains the side‚ took full responsibility for the mishap and said he would ensure that such an error does not happen again.
“That goal that I conceded‚ for me‚ I felt that I let the team down. I should hve communicated much better with Denis (Onyango).
“Going forward we have to focus and do our homework the way we have been doing before every game. That is what has helped us to get the trophies so far.”
Downs’ 22-year-old midfielder Percy Tau‚ who also had an impressive showing in Cairo‚ cautioned his team-mates against getting ahead of themselves before the job is done..
“There is no room for us to sit back and say that we have now won three games so we see the light and will go through‚” Tau said.
“We still want to get the results and keep the mood happy.”
Mosimane said the emotions he's going through ahead of Wednesday's showdown against Zamalek feel very similar to the sentiments he felt on the eve of the crucial domestic league fixture against AmaTuks that eventually saw Sundowns clinch the premiership title last season.
“This game feels like the day before we played Tuks in the league. We knew that if we win‚ we wrap it up‚” Mosimane said.
“The mentality was right. We hope for an early goal because an early goal will help us play freely and easy‚ and unsettle the Egyptians.
“In my opinion‚ I don’t think that they think they can go to Sundowns and win easily. Maybe before the tournament they thought they could come here and win. Things have changed now.
“They know that they (Zamalek) are skating on thin ice. It is not going to be very easy for them… For them‚ a point will really eliminate Enyimba. I don’t see Enyimba beating them in Cairo.”
Downs will be without defender Wayne Arendse and midfielder Tiyani Mabunda for the clash as the duo received yellow-card suspensions in the away leg match against Zamalek in Egypt.