Mamelodi Sundowns arrived in a ”scorching” Lubumbashi for Sunday’s crucial Confederation Cup game against the Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe on Friday without injured stars Ezrom Nyandoro, Surprise Moriri and Brent Carelse.
”It is a hammer blow to be without players of the calibre of Ezrom, Surprise and Brent for a game we simply have to win to have a good chance of qualifying for the tournament’s final,” said Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund from Lubumbashi,
”And the heat is on us in more ways than one,” he added. ”It’s like being in a sauna since we arrived and just the place for anyone looking to shed weight quickly.”
But Igesund, nevertheless, remained upbeat, and said the soccer fever that is ”everywhere here” is proving a great motivator and the squad generally are in good spirits.
”Why, we had 3 500 spectators turning up for our first practice session,” added the coach, ”and arrangements generally have been satisfactory.”
Igesund said that while the pitch for Sunday’s game cannot be described as carpet-like, it is ”not that bad — and the players will simply have to adapt”.
Sundowns currently occupy third place in group A of the Confederations Cup from which the winners qualify for he final, but are a mere point behind group leaders CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.
However, with Sfaxien playing at their home fortress against Cameroon’s Astres Douala over the weekend, Sundowns’ need for a victory is glaringly obvious — particularly in view of the Brazilians’ dismal goal-difference record after an earlier 4-0 defeat against Sfaxien. — Sapa