CAF Champions League-winning midfielders Tiyani Mabunda and Hlompho Kekana have identified where Mamelodi Sundowns could have an edge over Esperance and reach the continental football final.
The Tshwane giants host the Taraji in a semi-final, second-leg tie at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon [15:00 CAT]. It is a high-stakes affair between Sundowns, who will be out to protect the slender 1-0 from the away leg, and Esperance, who are keen on overturning their home loss.
The Brazilians are bidding to lift the continental title for the first time since 2016 and atone for last season’s disappointment of a near-miss when they were the losing finalists. Esperance, on the other hand, are on a quest to be crowned African champions for the fifth time, having last been on the winners’ podium in 2019.
Now, there is scrutiny on whether or not Sundowns will be able to defend their lead and if their visitors will turn the tables and pull an upset before a sold-out Loftus Versfeld.
SUNDOWNS’ KEY TO UNLOCK ESPERANCE
“For me, it’s the midfield, if we get control of the midfield with Tebza [Teboho Mokoena], Jayden [Adams], I don’t know how the coach [Miguel Cardoso] will pack it out. But based on the midfield that was put into play in the previous game, Jayden, Marcelo [Allende], those three players dictate the fight we break,” said Mabunda on the Mamelodi Sundowns Pitchside Podcast.
“If they are comfortable and play shorter [passes] together and get control of that game in midfield, it then gives confidence. You have got Ronza [Ronwen Williams], who is vocal at the back, and he is able to see everything with a bigger picture.
“He is able to organise his defence, but that will be determined by controlling that midfield. We avoid errors, especially in midfield, because once they cut it there, it means all three of us are out of possession, and then we are putting pressure on our defence.
“So, the midfield for me needs to be very solid and confident, not only to play but to fight. Champions League football is more of a fight.”
KEKANA POINT TO SUNDOWNS’ EDGE OVER ESPERANCE
Kekana was the captain in 2016 when Masandawana clinched the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history. Mabunda was also part of that squad, and he has Kekana agreeing with him that the midfield will be the ace up Sundowns’ sleeve.
“I think I agree with ‘Sugar’ [Mabunda]. The midfield will be very important, and at Loftus we have to use every part of the grass in terms of stretching the pitch a lot and creating room for the three-man midfield as we had in Tunisia,” said Kekana.
“I say that because I don’t want to see us risking the passes that we know we can be under pressure if we do that. But you must see us when we have the passes closer to the two-metre passes, they help us to give the rhythm.
“When you see Marcelo coming to touch it, Jayden comes in to touch it, we look like we are not going anywhere for those who are watching, but we have the control. We don’t want them to get the ball and have a counter-attack on us.
“So in the build-up, we should make sure that we are solid with the midfielders because we have quality. Tebza has quality, Marcelo can use the ball well, and Jayden can use the ball well.
“It is for us to make sure that in that, we don’t have the sloppy passes, give them that sniff of saying, ‘we can press now.’”
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