Mamelodi Sundowns co-head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has given AmaZulu FC some tips ahead of their tough away match against TP Mazembe in Congo.
The Durban-based club failed to take a homeground advantage after being held to a 0-0 draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium last Friday.
Benni McCarthy and his men will be looking to turn things in their favour away from home against TP Mazembe in CAF Champions League second leg on Saturday.
Mngqithi, whose team has faced the five-time CAFCL winners in 2015 and last year, has shared some helpful insights with Usuthu.
“Maybe if I can first take the first trip that we took to Lubumbashi in the first Champions League match that we played TP Mazembe there (3-1 defeat in 2015),” he told reporters.
“If you are not aware of what really is happening, the supporters are very intimidating. Your trip in the stadium is very scary, because you always ask yourself, are we going to come out with these, the supporters are showing you that they are going to cut your neck.
“They are going to score three goals, it’s like, culture and within, this small town, that they are making sure that you are as intimidated as ever.
“But when you have been there you start to realize that these people are very friendly. Maybe they are just scaring you, because immediately after you beat them, or you perform very well, after the matches, they are very friendly they are very nice.
“And it is important for AmaZulu to understand that, because it can get to your head when you are going there for the first time because even the road is not giving you an indication that after a game you will be having an easy ride coming out of Lubumbashi Township.
“It becomes very difficult even for the players as it may look like ‘hey guys we better not win this match because it looks like we might not come out in the stadium’, but the truth of the matter is they are very friendly people.
“It is just that they always want to scare you before the match and after the match it’s a different story, so if AmaZulu can understand that I think it will help them.”
Mngqithi recalled Downs first trip to Congo in 2015 when they 3-1 in front of a packed crowd, insisting it was a much different experience to last year when they beat Mazembe 2-1 in their own backyard.
“When we went there the first time around, we were not aware of that, but it was a very scary situation and at that time stadiums were opened and that stadium was easily packed,” he added.
“Last time we went there (in 2020), we were told they’ll only be bringing 1000 people in the stadium, but it never felt like it 1000 because the noise they make in the stadium can really confuse you.
“So I just hope and pray that now they do not have people in the stadium because our first encounter with their supporters and the stadium packed to capacity is something else.
“But I believe AmaZulu have got the capacity to come back with the result, Benni has done very well with the team, so we can always give them all our support as a country to be patriotic for once, to make sure that all together.”
Usuthu will take on TP Mazembe at Stade TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi tomorrow at 16:00.