Mahlatsi Makudubela hopeful of Young Africans’ triumph against the South Africans
Young Africans attacking midfielder Mahlatsi Makudubela says the club has done its “homework” on their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League opponents, Mamelodi Sundowns, as the two sides prepare to clash in the second leg of the Quarter-Finals on Friday, 05 April, in Pretoria.
“Skudu,” as the South African attacker is affectionately known, spoke from the Loftus Stadium on Thursday afternoon ahead of the big showdown. The showdown was preceded by a highly entertaining but tactical 0-0 stalemate in Dar Es Salaam last Friday.
In Sundowns, Makudubela comes up against a side that he featured for in the reserve side and says he, alongside his coach Miguel Gamondi, who was assistant coach at the club in their 2005/06 season league title triumph, has a better understanding of their opponents that they can use to their advantage.
“I think there is a lot that I can share with my colleagues. I have done that before, but with the coach having coached the team before, he knows the Sundowns culture. Mamelodi Sundown’s culture has never changed; it has been the same, and credit to the technical team who have done the team analysis. We are quite aware of what we can do and have done our homework,” said a confident Makudubela.
Continental football is certainly not new to the skillful forward, who was part of the Marumo Gallants (South Africa) team that reached the semi-finals of last season’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup before being scouted by the Tanzanian giants.
“I am going to make South Africans very proud by winning with a Tanzanian team,” Makudubela joked as he concluded.
Meanwhile, another Tanzanian giant in Simba AC has a huge task ahead of them on Friday as they aim to overturn a narrow 1-0 first-leg defeat to reigning champions Al Ahly in Cairo.
Simba suffered a narrow defeat after doing well to dominate the defending champions but failed to find the back of the net.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League QF Return Leg Fixtures:
Friday, 05 April
18h00 GMT | Mamelodi Sundowns v Young Africans
20h00 GMT | Al Ahly SC v Simba SC
Saturday, 06 April
16h00 GMT | Atletico Petroleos v TP Mazembe
20h00 GMT | Asec Mimosas v Esperance
