The capacity crowd at Lucas Moripe Stadium that provided a sea of yellow and roared on Mamelodi Sundowns were a big part of their 3-0 Caf Champions League first leg victory against Zamalek‚ Downs’ coach Pitso Mosimane said.
Mosimane thanked the crowd for the role they played and also revealed that Sundowns have invited Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba to travel with the team to the second leg in Alexandria on Sunday.
A rare packed house for the Brazilians provided a superb atmosphere on Saturday and helped the Brazilians establish an imposing advantage to take to the second leg at Borg El Arab Stadium.
“It would be an injustice for us not to congratulate and humble ourselves in front of the whole of South Africa which was here [at Lucas Moripe]‚” Mosimane said after the game.
“I saw the yellow jerseys‚ Chiefs jerseys‚ Pirates. I saw Bafana jerseys. It was unbelievable. I was emotional as we arrived like that with the bus.
“You guys [the press] gave us coverage. I told the players‚ I’ve never seen Sundowns on the back pages like this‚ every week.
“I showed Percy Tau a nice big picture in Sowetan. I said‚ ‘It’s not easy that there can be a back page with a full picture of you’‚ and below it was [Lionel] Messi with a small pic.
“And South Africa is slowly‚ slowly understanding [continental football]. I wish I could have my league games like this.
“But it was brilliant and it was beautiful.
“I want to thank all the SA clubs whose supporters were here. We got messages from everyone – Cavin Johnson‚ Lucky Lekgwathi‚ Ramahlwe Mphahlele. You won’t believe it – it’s unbelievable.
“The chairman of Orlando Pirates [Irvin Khoza] has been there with me‚ calling me all the time‚ speaking to me direct to say that we need to put the team and country on a different map.
“Danny Jordaan. I mean‚ you can’t ask for more. Bra Shakes [Mashaba]‚ I brought him to the dressing room afterwards to give him a chance to speak to the boys.
“He congratulated us‚ and we invited him to come with us to Alexandria – it’s important.
“This scenery we had today‚ I think that’s what killed Zamalek. The noise and all that.
“It was a good win and we need to keep our feet on the ground – we haven’t finished.
“Let’s put South Africa on a different map and go to Alexandria and get the result. And Bafana Bafana must also go to the World Cup. I think we can.”
First-half goals from Anthony Laffor and Tebogo Langerman‚ and an own goal from Eslam Hamed within a minute of the break‚ have made Downs the overwhelming favourites to lift the 2016 Caf Champions League trophy. - TMG Digital
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