Young Africans head coach Miguel Gamondi says Mamelodi Sundowns recent shortcomings in the CAF Champions League isn’t exactly an advantage they can use.
Sundowns and Yanga come into the second leg quarter-final evenly poised at 0-0 from the first leg in Dar es Salaam.
But with DStv Premiership giants falling short against Petro de Luanda and Wydad Atheltic Club in the last two seasons, there have been suggestions that Yanga could pull off an upset if Sundowns fall victim to the anxiety of previous exits.
“No, really, no, [we not focused on their shortcomings] in my philosophy I’ve always said the past is the past,” Gamondi emphasised ahead of the game.
“Every year is a different game, different players, different teams, different circumstances and honestly no, I know, Sundowns probably have more pressure than us because Sundowns is the best team for me, at the moment, in Africa.
“It’s a must-win for them, you analyse the start in the last five years, you can’t compare Young Africans with Sundowns at the international level, it’s not comparable, but I don’t think there’s issues to think about that.
“I’ve tried to convince my players that we can come here to fight and win the game and not because of the past but the present.”
The former Masandawana boss suggested that it’s anybody’s game based on the goalless draw, with Yanga having the potential advantage of the away goal ruling.
“We’re coming here to try to do our best, it will be a very tough game but as I said before, it’s a game for 180 minutes and tomorrow will be the last 90 minutes and one team must win,” the Argentine stated.
“I think we have the same possibilities as Sundowns, we are 50/50 and we’ll see what happens inside the pitch.”
