As they look to defend their CAF Women’s African Champions League title, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala says they respect their opponents, Simba Queens.
The Brazilians Ladies, as Sundowns are known, are the reigning African champions and Tshabalala says he is banking on his players who usually perform better when under pressure.
Tshabalala explained that Sundowns will prepare to face a tough game against Queens because they play good football and can be dangerous.
After dismantling TP Mazembe 4-0 to end top of Group B, defending champions Sundowns Ladies will meet Queens on Wednesday at 18:00 (SA time) and the venue is at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Sundowns finished their group stage assignments with three wins from as many games and claimed nine points as they swept the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Mazembe aside at Stade de Marrakesh in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Sunday night.
“I respect Simba, they are a team that plays the ball around. They’ve got strong players in the middle of the park, they know how to break the lines,” Tshabalala said.
“It’s going to be a tough semifinal but we are ready for them and also looking forward to it.”
The manager, Tshabalala praised his Sundowns troops after bagging a massive win against Mazembe, who beat Egypt’s Wadi Degla and lost 2-0 to Bayelsa Queens in their previous group matches.
“It was a very big game. We knew Mazembe needed a win to qualify and that in the first few minutes they would try to unsettle us and get a goal,” he added.
“We told the players the first few minutes we should not sit back and we had to go at them, and it resulted in a goal in the first 20 minutes.
“After that we allowed Mazembe to come at us a bit and the likes of [player of the match] Bambanani Mbane had to defend well and [goalkeeper] Andile Dlamini made some great saves. Then we punished them again in a critical phase in the 40th minute.
“We stuck to the plan and knew they would come at us with their pacy forwards. But we contained them and we’re happy to get the three points and happy to finish top of the group.”
Main Image: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies/Twitter
The post African champs Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies expect a tough clash in the semis appeared first on Entertainment SA - South African Entertainment News, Celebrity and Lifestyle Online Magazine & Entertainment.
Post a Comment