Maduka Seeks To Handle Pressure Ahead Of Carling Knockout Opener
Magesi coach, John Maduka, emphasized the need for his side to handle the pressure, as the defending champions face AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Carling Knockout Cup on Sunday.
Magesi go into the clash as the defending champions, having won the Carling Knockout Cup against Mamelodi Sundowns last season, which was also their first-ever campaign in the top-flight of South African football.
“We are defending champs. When we are going to the game, everyone knows that these are the ones that are keeping that trophy, so that makes it very, very difficult for us,” said John Maduka.
The Limpopo-based club’s run in the competition made waves across the football industry in the country.
Their run ended on a climax, with a dramatic 2-1 win against the heavy favourites, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the final, thanks to an 87th-minute equaliser by Delano Abrahams.
However, this time around, they’re heading into the competition as a vastly different side, as they are under the stewardship of former Royal AM and Bloemfontein Celtic mentor, John Maduka.
“If we want to be able to retain this, we have to start from game one, and the game one is against AmaZulu, and from there we take game by game,” added Maduka.
The Malawian also emphasised the need for his team to maintain their confidence, as their league form has been uninspiring thus far, which sees them sit in 15th place in the Betway Premiership, above 16th-place Chippa United, only on goal difference.
“I mean, this cup game, it can give us also confidence, you know, in the league. Like you said, so many games have been unlucky in the league, not winning them, but you know, after a good performance, but losing them,” added Maduka.
The last meeting between Magesi and Usuthu ended in a 1-1 draw, albeit in the league in Limpopo.
