Former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana has outlined exactly what the Tshwane giants must do when they face Esperance in Sunday’s first leg CAF Champions League quarter-final at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades, Tunisia.
The Zebediela-born legend, who played 52 times for Sundowns in the competition, says Espérance are not unfamiliar opponents, but rather a side that Kabo Yellow know very well.
Kekana believes the two teams, having met four times in the space of two seasons, are fully aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. For him, there are no real surprises left between the sides, with both camps knowing exactly what to expect after trading wins and losses over recent encounters.
However, he is quick to stress that playing in Tunisia brings a completely different challenge. The atmosphere, driven by a passionate home crowd, can become overwhelming, and managing that pressure will be just as important as the football itself for Sundowns.
Kekana suggests Sundowns should “bore” their opponents with possession, keeping the ball moving and patiently controlling the rhythm until the crowd loses influence and the game swings in their favour.
While acknowledging the intimidating atmosphere created by the Esperance supporters, Kekana believes that Masandawana’s superior ability to monopolise the ball will be their ultimate secret weapon. By “boring” the opposition with sustained possession and refusing to allow the game to transition into an end-to-end scrap, the Brazilians can effectively frustrate both the players and the fans, forcing the home side to lose their tactical discipline.
SUNDOWNS MUST CONTROL TEMPO AND SILENCE THE CROWD
“One thing that will be both difficult and exciting is that we played these guys four times in a space of two years. They know what’s coming,” Kekana said on The Pitchside podcast.
“We beat them, and they beat us. We know each other very well. You are going away to Esperance in Tunisia. There is just one obstacle we need to overcome: the crowd. The crowd is crazy. They will push you to the last nerve of your body.”
HLOMPHO KEKANA: ‘WE ARE BETTER IN TERMS OF QUALITY’
The Sundowns legend added: “Once you make that extra player quiet… on the field of play, we are better in terms of quality and personnel. We saw it in the four games I have mentioned.
“But this is a game of goals. In the Champions League, you must be aware that they will bypass the midfield with long direct balls, even at home. It means they are intentional about putting pressure on the defenders to create half-chances.
“One thing they beat Southern African teams with is their shooting technique. They strike the ball cleanly. You can see it in the goals they score. That’s one thing you cannot allow them to do.
“The only real difficulty is the crowd. But they are playing Mamelodi Sundowns. We have that pass-and-move style. They don’t like that type of game. They expect possession to shift between both teams. If you bore them with possession, they lose patience,” Kekana concluded.
The encounter will kick off at 9 PM CAT, with Sundowns eyeing a positive result to take back home ahead of the second leg in Pretoria a week later.
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