Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies head coach Jerry Tshabalala says preparations for the maiden CAF Women’s Champions League have gone well, crediting the activity in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
Sundowns currently top the log with 58 points from 20 matches. They have been drawn in Group B with FAR Rabat of Morocco, Rivers Angels from Nigeria and Vihiga Queens from Kenya at the finals in Egypt after their dominant performance in the COSAFA qualifiers last month in Durban.
Tshabalala says he is aware of how tough it is going to be in the finals and told the media at a press conference on Tuesday that he is already preparing his charges mental strength. Tshabalala also adds that he has done his home work on the teams in his group and these are his impressions on them.
“We are playing VIhiga Queens I think on the 6 November that’s our first game. One won’t believe how much I went into detail to know what’s happening with Vihiga Queens,” he said.
“I have realised it is one of those teams that play 4-3-3. I don’t like to single out players but they have got three/four players that are very, very good. That tells you that we are doing our home work quite well. We don’t want to go there and be surprised by our opponents.”
Tshabalala continued his analysis of the sides from West and North Africa.
“Yes we never had a chance to play teams from West Africa and teams from Central Africa and Northern Africa, but we are very fortunate that we have seen some of their games. We have seen a game where they (Rivers Angels) have played Hasaacas, the first game in the group stages they beat Hasaacas and they have gone all the way to lose to Hasaacas.
“We have seen their weaknesses, we have seen their strength, that is something I wouldn’t want to divulge now. The tricky one is the team from Morocco, FAR Rabat.
“I have tried to get a few clips from them but it is a bit difficult. Looking at the team that played for Morocco that played against Spain in a friendly game, it tells you that 15 of FAR Rabat players were all in that national team.
“So basically when you play FAR Rabat it is more or less that you are playing against the national team of Morocco”
Sundowns’ second game is against Angels on 9 November and their last group game is against Rabata on 12 November.
