Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has attributed their African Champions League away win against Mazembe on Saturday to hard work that they put into the preparations against the five-time African champions.
The Brazilians became the first team to reach the quarter finals of the prestigious continental tournament after a 2-1 win over TP Mazembe in Lumbubashi.
The Brazilians win against the Ravens ended the 74-match unbeaten home record in African competitions of Democratic Republic of Congo giants.
The goals were scored by Peter Shalulile and Lyle Lakay and the home side scored their goal through Tresor Mputu.
Co-coach Mngqithi has pointed out that they worked on their players’ psychology and also watched the match tapes of the opponents and that he was elated that his players played to instructions for the most part of the encounter.
“We knew we were playing against a very good team, but our confidence was very high. We have played more than twenty games and we have not lost a game which is also a good account for the team and the way we prepare. The boys fought hard. I must say some circumstances within the game were difficult for the boys”, said Coach Manqoba Mngqithi after the game.
TP Mazembe last lost a home CAF match in October 2009, going down 2-0 to Al Hilal of Sudan in a Champions League semifinal.
The Congolese won 61 matches since, drew 13, scored 166 goals and conceded 34 in Champions League, Confederation Cup and Super Cup matches before facing Sundowns.
“We did a lot of video analysis, we knew almost all of their combinations, we knew all their strong players, we were anticipating that their number nine would be starting and thought that he would be a thorn in our sides. We knew both their centre backs are right-footed and planned that if we press them more to the left there would be limitations”, Mngqithi added.
Mamelodi Sundowns ill host TP Mazembe in the return leg on the 16th of March at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
