Marumo Gallants interim coach Raymond Mdaka has revealed how they plan to approach the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final second-leg clash against Tanzania’s Young Africans in Rustenburg.
Bahlabane ba Ntwa are set to take on the NBC Premier League champions on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The kick-off is scheduled for 18h00.
Marumo come into this two goals down, having lost the first leg with a 2-0 scoreline in Tanzania last week, thanks to goals by Aziz Ki and Bernard Marrison.
However, the Limpopo-based side’s mentor, Mdaka, remains confident that his boys will be able to bounce back from the 2-0 goal deficit.
RAYMOND MDAKA: ‘WERE ONCE IN THIS SITUATION’
Mdaka reckons that this is not something new to them. Marumo were able to come out victorious when they were in a similar situation when they faced USM Alger before in the tournament.
“We were once in this situation before. Remember we played USM Alger. USM looked far much better than them [Yanga], but I’m not undermining them,” recalled Mdaka.
“But we feel we can still make it. For us, is to go there and get an early goal. And obviously, it will unsettle them and put them under pressure. And we fight to get the second goal, as long as we don’t concede.
“Looking at the first leg clash, it’s one game we felt like it wasn’t a difficult game. We just couldn’t convert our chances.”
The coach further noted that they had a few number of key players who missed the first leg game. This was due to injuries and he believes his side will be boosted by those players in the return leg.
THE THREE PLAYERS WHO WERE ABSENT IN THE FIRST LEG
Marumo were without the services of attacking midfielder Celimpilo Ngema, winger Lesiba Nku, and defender Lebogang Mabotja in the first leg played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Wednesday, 10 May 2023.
“There are some few players that were not there. Remember Ngema, Nku, and Mabotja were not there because of injuries,” he added.
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