Mamelodi Sundowns will need to improve every aspect of their game if they are to play in their first Caf Champions League final since their maiden crown won with Pitso Mosimane in 2016.
This is according to coach Rhulani Mokwena whose team will face the winner between Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Esperance of Tunisia in an away first leg semifinal on April 19. They will host the second leg on April 26.
Sundowns secured their last-four spot courtesy of a 3-2 penalty shootout victory against Young Africans. The victory was attained via the valiant efforts of Downs shot stopper Ronwen Williams, who again produced spot kick stopping heroics by saving two penalties at Loftus on Friday night to help his side qualify for the semifinals for a second successive season.
Williams saved the penalties of Yanga’s Stephane Aziz Ki and Dickson Job, while Ibrahim Hamad sent his shot skywards over the crossbar, sparking wild celebrations among the Yellow Nation.
The Bafana Bafana skipper starred for the national team at the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in February where he saved four Cape Verde penalties to propel Hugo Broos’ team to a bronze medal finish.
The Brazilians were dominated by a Yanga team coached by former Sundowns coach Miguel Gamondi.
Mokwena admitted that Yanga didn’t give them room to do what they wanted, but added that he was not surprised because that’s what this competition has proven to be, especially in the knockout rounds, where there’s very little separating the teams. “I thought we were just unfortunate with the final action in the final third,” said Mokwena whose team struggled in both legs to breach Yanga’s steadfast defence.
“There were some moments where we could have made better decisions from (Thembinkosi) Lorch, Lucas (Ribeiro) and (Thapelo) Maseko in the final third. But you can’t fault them for trying. Can we improve? Yes, 150% we can. To know we can still improve is actually a very good sign.”
The Tanzanian outfit created better chances, especially in the second half, and Gamondi — who together with Neil Tovey won the league with Sundowns in 2006 — was incensed with Mauritian referee Dahane Beida, who disallowed what looked like a legitimate goal by attacking midfielder Ki in a drama-filled second half.
“Is there anybody in this room [media room] who can tell me it is not a goal?” the well travelled Argentina-born coach asked journalists after the match.
Indeed, Ki’s shot looked to have crossed the line but the VAR officials ruled it out possibly because the whole circumference of the ball didn’t go in. But Gamondi thought Beida should have gone to the VAR monitor to satisfy himself and everyone before dismissing it.
“Somebody must explain why the referee didn’t go to the VAR (monitor) to check for himself, but he wants to check if there’s a possibility of a red or yellow card,” the angry Yanga coach protested.
It was after this incident that Sundowns realised they could lose Friday’s match, with Ki constantly troubling their defence with his trickery and passes to the strikers. But once the match had ended 0-0 after 180 minutes over two legs, it was Williams’ time to once again prove that the heroics he pulled for Bafana in Ivory Coast were no fluke.
“For now I just want to enjoy the moment of getting to the semifinals. Regardless of other things, we are in the semifinals and that for me is all that matters,” said the Sundowns coach.
Reigning champions Al Ahly of Egypt, who have won this competition 11 times, will face Petro de Luanda of Angola or TP Mazembe of DR Congo in the other semifinal after beating Simba SC of Tanzania 3-0 on aggregate in Cairo on Friday.
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