Esperance coach Kanzari: Sundowns ‘can have the ball, but trust me…’

Esperance coach Maher Kanzari has warned that while Mamelodi Sundowns may enjoy ball possession, his team is prepared to spring a surprise in the upcoming match.

The two teams clashed in a quarterfinal first-leg tie of the CAF Champions League at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday afternoon.

Sundowns secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a second half goal from Peter Shalulile. At one point, Masandawana held an impressive 84% possession, limiting the visitors’ opportunities.

The return leg will be played in Tunis on Tuesday next week as the two teams fight for a semifinal spot. Kanzari outlined his bold strategy and confidence for the crucial second leg match.

“What I can tell you, it will be a big game in Tunisia. So, yes, if they score one, we can score three and we go through [to the semifinals]. So, we’re playing attacking football. I’m confident that we’re going through with good playing attacking football in Tunisia,” said Kanzari.

WHAT KANZARI SAID ABOUT SUNDOWNS’ DOMINANCE

“We know Sundowns are a very technical team. However, I believe possession is not really a key factor to get a result. But we will try to play another game [in the second leg],” he added.

He warned that Sundowns would witness a different opponent in Radès. The reverse fixture will be hosted at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, located 9 KM south-east of the capital, Tunis.

“They can have the ball, but trust me, in Tunisia, we won’t play the same game. We will go and try to win the game and get to the semifinal.”

While he admits the Brazilians had a lot of possession, he argues that “they had no kind of clear-cut chance.”

“You can see the goal they scored was a lack of concentration,” claimed Kanzari.

Sundowns secured Champions League glory in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane and have been striving to add a second star but have not yet succeeded. They will be hoping this is the season they eventually win it.

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