Mamelodi Sundowns have arrived in Zambia ahead of Saturday’s 2016 CAF Champions League semifinal first leg match against Zesco United at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Sundowns landed at 13h40 on Thursday afternoon at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport on a chartered flight.
The team included Zambia number one goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene who was between the posts just 24 hours earlier in Sundowns’ 0-0 draw away at Maritzburg United.
Coach Pitso Mosimane said he was expecting an interesting debut competitive clash against Zesco .
Sundowns and Zesco’s last three meetings have all been in friendly matches that the South African champions have won.
“It is a different game totally. Friendly games don’t matter, this one is an official match,” Mosimane said.
“What matters more is coming here to try and get a result and hopefully score.”
Mosimane added that the best team will win and that he had great respect for what George Lwandamina has done for Zesco after guiding them them to their debut semifinal appearance in the competition.
“We respect Zesco, we respect their coach, he is a big coach, and a national team coach, and
they have a very good team,” Mosimane said.
“You cannot be lucky winning all your home games, they have reached the semifinals by winning all their home games except against Wydad Casablanca (1-1).
“We know who they are, we know very well the team we are playing against.”
The two sides will meet in the final leg on September 24 in Pretoria to decide who goes through to next month’s two-legged final.
good luck ZESCO