Mamelodi Sundowns confirm arriving in Gauteng from Tunis on 21 April at 23:16. Image: @masandawana/X.
Watch: Sundowns train at 00:45 AM
DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns move differently. Kabo Yellow arrived from Tunisia to train midnight.
Mamelodi Sundowns confirm arriving in Gauteng from Tunis on 21 April at 23:16. Image: @masandawana/X.
Mamelodi Sundowns are not like their DStv Premiership peers. The CAF Champions League semifinalists and African Football League champions train while others are asleep in the night.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINAL: ESPERANCE 1-0 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Soon after drawing 2-2 with Moroka Swallows last week, Rulani Mokwena‘s team took a flight to the northern tip of Africa. The mission was a final four first-leg game against Tunisian giants Esperance in Tunis. Sundowns narrowly lost 1-0 despite their large dominance in the game. The second leg is set for Friday evening at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The team known as Kabo Yellow arrived in Mzansi late on Sunday before hitting the gym around 00:00.
Check out the footage below as shared by Sundowns via iDiskiTimes.
RULANI MOKWENA CONFIDENT ABOUT MAKING THE FINAL
Meanwhile, coach Mokwena had quite a lot to say after Sundowns’ unlucky loss on Saturday night.
“I think with a lot of humility, it’s halftime because the game is over two legs,” Mokwena said as quoted by TimesLIVE.
“Let me congratulate Esperance for the victory and also congratulate Sundowns because I’m extremely proud of the efforts of my players.
“I thought we were brave on the ball. I thought we defended very well and we suffered together in moments when we had to suffer against a very good team. When I watch the game of Esperance, I don’t remember a team dominating them here at home like we did.
“I don’t agree that Esperance tactically won. No, I fully disagree. I think in football, there are two important things during 90 minutes,” Mokwena responded to a question by Tunisian media who questioned him for being outplayed tactically.
“The first is how many chances are you able to create and who created the most chances today between Sundowns and Esperance.
“Efficiency is not performance and tactics. You can talk about efficiency and maybe you are right because if you create one chance and you score, you are efficient.
“So, that is a completely different discussion that we can have. I would like to ask you guys [media], how many times do you see Esperance park the bus at home?
“Are you guys happy to see one of the biggest teams in this country playing against Sundowns parking the bus?
“If you guys are happy with that, then there is no problem with me. You can praise Esperance without degrading the performance of Sundowns because it’s possible to do that,” the 37-year-old coach concluded.
Do you believe Sundowns will turn it around and eventually win the CAF Champions League for the second time? Let us know in the comments section below.
