Mamelodi Sundowns are on the road to meet Esperance Sportive Tunis this Saturday and coach Rulani Mokwena expects a tough and hostile environment. Masandawana will meet the Tunisian giants in a crucial CAF Champions League semi-final first-leg clash on Saturday night.
After their 2-2 draw against Moroka Swallows in the DStv Premiership on Monday, Mokwena said he anticipates a hostile crowd away from home. While the 2016 African champions are aware and experienced when it comes to such hostile environments, Mokwena still wants his men to focus on the game and play to reach the final of the lucrative competition.
Sundowns to Meet Esperance in a Hostile Environment
The match is scheduled to be played at Tunis’ Hammadi Agrebi Stadium on Saturday (9 pm SA time) and Mokwena who was furious after their draw at Dobsonville Stadium is wary of their counterparts.
“I expect hostility and tough conditions. Espérance are a good team, they won yesterday in fact they drew 1-all against Monastir away in the domestic league on Sunday,” Mokwena said on Monday.
“I watched a little bit with Dayle Solomons Downs’ performance analyst but I have to first swallow, excuse the pun, the feeling I have after this Swallows game before analysing the Tunisians properly.”
Despite grabbing the lead through Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende against The Dube Birds, Sundowns squandered their 2-0 lead and allowed Swallows to find their way back courtesy of Augustine Mahlonoko and Gabadinho Mhango’s goals. For the first time, Sundowns conceded more than one goal since their 2-0 Nedbank Cup Last 16 victory over Maritzburg United mid-March.
Sundowns Boss Delighted to Create More Chances
However, despite conceding and dropping two vital points, Mokwena sounded rather relieved that they managed to score two goals, having failed to do so in their previous five matches in all competitions.
“It’s good that we scored two goals and I am also happy that we scored from open play. We could have scored more to be honest because we created a lot of scoring situations,” added the Sundowns boss, Mokwena.
“I also think against AmaTuks in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals last Friday we created better situations to score more but we were a bit unlucky.”
Mokwena Provides Injury Update on Midfielder
During the same clash against Swallows, midfielder Mokoena asked to be taken off just after scoring a cracker of a goal from a distance. The shot left keeper Daniel Akpeyi shocked and he didn’t have a chance to produce a save. Now the 37-year-old coach added that it was just a small tweak.
“Mokoena just felt a small tweak and I’m very proud of him. I always say to them [his players] that once you feel something small, don’t take risks,” continued Mokwena about his players.
“He scored a good goal and he could have celebrated and continued to play because the feel-good hormones take over the pain, but he was professional to say ‘I’ve got something’ [the pain] and I’m very proud of him for that.”
Furthermore, reports in South Africa suggest that Sundowns will face Esperance at Loftus Moripe Stadium on Friday 26 April.
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