Young Africans SC ready to jump Mamelodi Sundowns hurdle in CAF Champions League quarters

Tanzanian giants Young Africans SC will walk into the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium this evening with nothing less than determination to bring down Mamelodi Sundowns as the two sides battle in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions league quarter final.

After another Tanzanian side Simba SC suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Egypt’s Al Ahly on Friday, Young Africans will be more than hungry to jump the hurdle and give Tanzanians and the CECAFA Zone a good Easter holiday present.

Head coach Miguel Angel Gamondi has made it clear that they have no choice but to go all out and get a good result in the first leg. “Yes we are facing a good team, but we have also prepared well and we hope to get good support and motivation from our fans,” added the coach.

Gamondi says they have done their homework and studied the Mamelodi Sundowns team well enough. “We must try to play as a team and take our chances because we know the opponents are also not an easy team,” he added.

The coach made it clear that although they have some injury concerns lately, he is confident that any players picked to feature can do the job. Young Africans SC, who reached the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup last season will be hungry to go a step better in this competition as they have never got to the semi-final stage.

But Rulani Mokwena, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach has also made it clear they cannot underrate Young Africans SC. “We expect a very tough game because we are playing against a good team with a lot of talented players. We respect Young Africans and we know they are a good team that has won 29 titles over time,” added the coach.

Mokwena however says they trust in their abilities and are in Tanzania not to participate, but to play football and win. “Ideally we would want to finish the game in the first leg, but life is not like that,” added Mokwena who led the South African team to victory in the inaugural African Football League last year.