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Despite holding a 2-0 advantage from the away first leg against Angola's Petro de Luanda, Mamelodi Sundowns' chief coach, Rulani Mokwena, urges caution.
Despite holding a 2-0 advantage from the away first leg against Angola's Petro de Luanda, Mamelodi Sundowns' chief coach, Rulani Mokwena, urges caution.
The team needs to sidestep a loss in the upcoming Pretoria home game, with even a 1-0 defeat sufficient for them to progress to the semi-finals.
Yet, Mokwena emphasizes that outcomes can shift rapidly in football. "I draw the players' attention to a recent Cup match here in South Africa. We trailed 2-0 at the break, only to level the score in the second half.
It took us 45 minutes to net those two. This Petro match is essentially at its halftime, with another 90 minutes awaiting in Pretoria," Mokwena remarked post the Luanda clash.
The coach further stressed the need for groundedness and concentration. "Football history is rife with dramatic comebacks. We'll tackle the upcoming match as if it's starting from scratch."
Mokwena lauded his team, particularly for their second-half display against a challenging opponent enjoying robust home support.
"Facing a well-organized team, our side effectively managed to counter their tactics," Mokwena said after the game.
"I must acknowledge that some of our initial strategies were not on point, necessitating tweaks in the latter half. The credit for adapting and performing goes to the players," he expressed.
With their eyes set on adding another Continental title following their 2016 CAF Champions League victory, Sundowns view the AFL as a significant opportunity for Mokwena and his squad.
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