ON the face of it, Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalless draw in their CAF Champions League Group B opener against SC Maniema Union is a big blow to the Brazilians’ quest for glory in the continent’s premier club knockout competition.
After all, don’t they always say that to be successful in such a team, they need to make sure they win their home matches and at least get a draw on the road?
And with Maniema regarded as the weakest team in the group that also includes Moroccan teams Raja Casabalanca and AS Far Rabat, not being able to beat the Congolese at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night would seem to suggest that the South African champions are not as good as their coach would like us to believe they are.
Manqoba Mngqithi sees things completely differently, though, despite the 0-0 stalemate in Pretoria.
“To be straightforward, in this group, we have got probably even more potential to win more matches away from home – see it like that,” he said during the post-match media conference.
“I also see us winning some matches at home. At this stage, I’ve not pressed any panic buttons, because it would have been catastrophic had we lost this match after losing the (Carling Knockout) final.
“And going into this match, with all the problems we had, if you look at the number of days and number of matches, and how much of a change we had to make to the starting line-up based on the physiological problems we had...
“I strongly believe if we were to take out all the underlying circumstances, maybe in this match we could have been far stronger than what we were.”
Those shortcomings notwithstanding, Sundowns were still the stronger team, and enjoyed the most possession and had numerous scoring chances, which they simply did not make use of on Tuesday night.
A tough battle in our first #TotalEnergiesCAFL group encounter & a point earned at home! ⚔#Sundowns #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/zYMybps92T
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) November 27, 2024
“I believe the group that played today gave a good account of themselves. (It was) just the final decisions and final touches, and not taking advantage of some situations,” Mngqithi said.
“There’s a two versus one, but no shot at goal... Those are some things that infuriate you, but there are a whole lot of positives that I can take out under the circumstances.”
Mngqithi feels that Maniema are a good team who are going to produce some surprises in the group.
“In the Champions League, you expect to try to win your home matches,” he said.
“But be that as it may, many people are not aware, we played against a very good team.
“Unfortunately, they could not show how good they are because they relieve more on transitions, and we controlled the ball very well.
'Masinde' Onyango spoke to us after yesterday's physical encounter against AS Maniema to share his assessment of the encounter! 🎙#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/0mxWi0ivtx
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) November 27, 2024
“There were few scary moments when we lost the ball and we got desperate – sometimes play(ing) the ball in the air against those big players, and they caught us on transitions.
“I must reiterate that this team is very good, and they are going to be a big problem for everybody else.
“But I am very confident that we will do very well against them in their home ground.”
Sundowns’ next match is away to group leaders AS FAR Rabat on December 7.
The Moroccans won 2-0 away to their compatriots Raja Casablanca in their opening match, also on Tuesday.
Before that, Sundowns return to Premiership action on Saturday, when they host Sekhukhune United at Loftus Versfeld (8pm kick-off).