Mngqithi banks on exploiting errors against Maniema

MANQOBA Mngqithi says he's optimistic that Mamelodi Sundowns will be able to force Maniema Union to commit mistakes when they visit the PSL champions in the second leg of the Champions League second round preliminary qualifiers on Sunday.

Last Sunday, the Brazilians started their continental season away to Maniema in the DRC. They ended the match the happier of the two teams after the 2-2 draw, taking a healthy away goal advantage to Tshwane.

A favourable result for the Brazilians in the return leg will see them qualify for the group stage for the sixth consecutive season. But Mngqithi, who has been part of this incredible run, knows that won't come easy against the visitors.

He believes that they'll pose a threat – just like they did in their

own backyard. But with Loftus having proved to be their happy hunting ground before, Mngqithi is banking on his charges to force Maniema into errors. “We have seen what the opponent presents. But we believe that we've got a team that is capable of playing against those guys. The conditions (away) weren't very good. It was very hot,” said Mngqithi, the Brazilians' co-coach.

“We played on artificial turf. We made a lot of technical mistakes. As a result, even the goal they scored from Mosa (Lebusa's) mistake, was an outcome of not being familiar with an artificial turf as the ball stopped.”

Domestic and continental football matches may be worlds apart but that Sundowns are unbeaten at home this season after winning five matches and drawing just one in the domestic campaign could spell danger for the DRC side.

“We are very hopeful that we've got what it takes to pin them down and force them to make errors. On our home ground, we are always optimistic that it will be a very tough game for them. We have to respect them,” Mngqithi said.

After conceding two goals away from home in the first leg, Mngqithi knows that they'll have to give Maniema plenty of respect. They proved that they are dangerous on the counter-attack with their speed working in their favour in turnover situations.