Sundowns Targets Maniema Union Scalp
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende says they are eager to bounce back from their disappointing 2-1 loss to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout Cup final on Saturday ahead of their continental clash against AS Maniema Union.
Reeling from their defeat at the hands of top-flight rookies, the Brazilians will host the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday (18h00) in what will be their opening match of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League group stages.
While the Tshwane giants are keen to redeem themselves, they face a formidable side that has not lost a match across all competitions since March including upsetting Angolan giants Petro de Luanda in this season’s preliminary rounds.
Despite being in regular contention for continental glory, Masandawana has struggled to bypass the semi-final stage of Africa’s elite club competition in the last two campaigns, and the Chilean midfield maestro has pinpointed where the club falls short.
“For the past two seasons, we were eliminated in the semifinals simply because of the away goal rule. Against Wydad Casablanca [in the 2022/23 season] we conceded two goals which was painful for us to be eliminated in the semifinals, ” said Allende through a translator.
“And also, last season as well as a situation of an away goal rule, but we understand the dynamics of this [competition], the more goals you score the better you become and put your foot into the final.”
Allende went on to urge the club’s supporters to keep rallying behind the team to get back to winning ways regardless of recent struggles in domestic cup finals, having lost three consecutively in different competitions.
“We have to get ready and bounce back because Sundowns is a big and professional club. Players, technical team, and also our fans have to understand [there’ll be setbacks], we need them to back us up to bounce back, ” the Downs midfielder asserted.
Furthermore, the little magician as Allende is fondly known, who though was disappointing on Saturday’s final, insists that their objectives and focus for the ongoing season haven’t changed as they are aiming to win every remaining silverware still to play.
“We couldn’t win the final [against Magesi], but our objective remains the same, we want to win every trophy, but we are going to come back stronger, ” the 25-year-old South American added.
It remains to be seen whether Manqoba Mngqithi’s side can overcome in-form Maniema as Sundowns secured their 2021/22 group stage berth with a 2-0 victory against the same opponent on home soil after a 2-2 draw in DRC.
