Rulani's immediate focus is on Richard's Bay

Yanga next on Downs’ minds for Friday CAF duel

Neville Khoza Journalist
Rulani Mokwena.
Rulani Mokwena.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

With all to do for Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Young Africans in Pretoria on Friday, coach Rulani Mokwena's immediate focus is on the DStv Premiership match against Richards Bay at Loftus Versfeld Stadium tonight (7.30pm).

Sundowns were held to a goalless draw by Young Africans in the first leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday, but Mokwena said they will start worrying about the preparations for the second leg after the league match.

The Brazilians are looking to stretch their lead at the top of the log table to 49 points when they host the struggling Natal Rich Boyz and Mokwena said the focus should be firmly on that before thinking of the second leg, where he is optimistic they will advance to the semifinal.

"Of course, I will see Sundowns in the next round. I'm very confident about that, in fact," Mokwena told the media. "The plan is to get home safely now, rest, drink lots of water, sleep, analyse the game and then prepare for Richards Bay. We have a very important league game on Tuesday, so that's the plan for now."

Mokwena admitted they have to be better against Richards Bay tonight and Young Africans in the return leg on Friday, as he felt they were not at their best on Saturday.

"We knew regardless of the scoreline, we had to win in Pretoria and I think that remains the same," he said. "Let's see how we go and try to improve in the second leg. We didn't have all our players to prepare for the game, but it is what it is now. We have to look and see what best we can prepare for the second leg.

"We can do better, we can play better, we can use the ball better even if we have won. I will still say to you it's only half time and we had to play better and in the second leg and try to win the game, that's for sure.

"It's not always easy coming from the Fifa break, the first game after an international break, but okay, let's see how it goes."

Fixtures

Tonight: Sundowns v Bay, Loftus Versfeld (7.30pm); AmaZulu v Polokwane, Moses Mabhida (7.30pm); Sekhukhune v CPT City, Peter Mokaba Stadium 7.30pm; Chiefs v Stellenbosch, FNB (7.30pm)

Tomorrow: Swallows v Pirates, Dobsonville (7.30pm); Arrows v SuperSport, Mpumalanga (7.30pm); Chippa v Spurs, Nelson Mandela Bay (7.30pm); Galaxy v Royal, Mbombela (7.30pm)

Saturday: Chippa v Chiefs, Buffalo City, (3pm); Bay v Swallows, King Zwelithini (3pm); Pirates v Arrows, Orlando (5.30pm); Stellenbosch v Sekhukhune, Danie Craven (8pm); SuperSport v Galaxy, Lucas Moripe (8pm)

Sunday: CPT City v AmaZulu, Cape Town (3pm); Royal v Polokwane, Harry Gwala (3pm)


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