Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Al Ahly will be in the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
Sundowns opened their group stage campaign with a 0-0 draw against Maniema Union at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday evening, while Al Ahly beat Stade d’Abijan 4-2 and Esperance thrashed Djoliba 4-0.
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With all three sides set to compete in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, along with Wydad Athletic Club, who failed to qualify for CAF inter-club competitions this season, Mngqithi was probed about the importance of a good campaign to prepare for the global showpiece in the United States of America next year.
“You will have those teams in the last four,” Mngqithi said confidently when asked if the three teams would be in the semi-finals this season.
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“I think it’s very important [for the three teams to do well to prepare for the Club World Cup], it’s what we have been planning and preparing for, with all the rotations that one has done to try and make sure we arrive at this stage without a heavy load on the legs.
“I think where we are now, we were just unfortunate with the FIFA break and then the final immediately after – that caused a bit of chaos for the physiological readiness of the players.
“But I do believe the players arent loaded on their legs, they are fresh enough and I do believe we are now at a stage where we are getting closer and closer to our combinations that one wanted to start maybe firing at the right time, not firing too early and creating problems with people already knowing what’s likely to happen.
“I think now it’s getting closer to even you knowing who will be in the starting XI of Sundowns, we tried to hide it as much as possible by rotating the team to make sure every player gets minutes in the legs. I’m very happy almost every player that we have has enough minutes, everyone is confident he can contribute to the success of the club.
“I don’t think in the last few years we’ve been in his position where in matchday one of the group stages, we still feel fresh but we were just disturbed with what happened now [FIFA break], but I think we will be in a good state for the next five matches in the Champions League and the league matches, things are looking positive.”
Mngqithi was also questioned on luck and whether it’s played a part in their inconsistencies in results across all competitions – where they have blown some teams away and then struggle to create chances in others.
“I wouldn’t want to go to the luck, I believe I am very lucky in my life, I’m still going to have a lot of luck – it’s one thing I have always had,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s also God’s way – you know? God sometimes creates these moments so there can be an audience at the end…”
