Former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Manqoba Ngwenya has weighed in on the Brazilians’ CAF Champions League semi-final second leg against Esperance, suggesting a vital tactical midfield tweak to help the Tshwane giants secure a spot in the final.
Sundowns already have one foot in the final after their 1-0 win in the first leg at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades, Tunisia, with Brayan Leon scoring the decisive goal early in the second half this past Sunday.
With the return leg set for Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon, the focus now shifts to how Sundowns manage the game at home, whether they go aggressive or take a more controlled approach to protect their lead.
Ngwenya believes this is where experience and game management will be crucial. According to the former winger, bringing in Bafana Bafana international Themba Zwane could give Sundowns the control they need in midfield.
He feels the situation calls for calmness rather than chaos, especially with the advantage already in hand and a big crowd expected in Pretoria.
WHY THEMBA ZWANE SHOULD START THE SECOND LEG
“I would be more conservative, you know,” Ngwenya said on the Soccer Beat podcast. “Obviously, the attacking threat will remain [from Sundowns].
“I don’t know if Miguel Cardoso would ever do this, but I would start with Themba Zwane. We need somebody who can control the game. We are 1-0 up, a crucial away goal. We need someone to control the tempo of the game.
“I would definitely have Zwane in that middle pairing. And with the crowd we expected, with Zwane being a crowd favourite, it would work to Sundowns’ advantage. It would give that psychological edge over the visiting North Africans.”
“Obviously, [Khulumani Ndamane will play for the suspended [Grant] Kekana, [Aubrey] Modiba comes back in at left-back, Khuliso Mudau on the right. Other than that, the only change would be Zwane in the midfield,” added Ngwenya.
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