Latest news with #MothobiMvala
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns eye redemption in Cairo after late slip in CAF Champions League final first leg
Mothobi Mvala has urges Mamelodi Sundowns to stay focused and 'defend with the ball' ahead of their decisive CAF Champions League final second leg against Pyramids in Cairo. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix After finally breaking their CAF Champions League semi-final curse, Mamelodi Sundowns must overcome a defensive obstacle in order to boost their silverware chances. Sundowns are in the continental showpiece final for the first time since winning the crown in 2016, having exited in the semi-finals in the past two seasons. However, they did not start the first leg of the two-legged final on a positive note, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow finalists Pyramids at home, Loftus Versfeld, last Saturday. Sundowns allowed Pyramids to sneak in the equaliser deep in stoppage time, giving the Egyptian side a crucial away goal advantage heading into the second leg in Cairo on Sunday night (7pm kick-off). 𝑹𝑶𝑨𝑫 𝑻𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑳 𝑶𝑭 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑳𝑺 🌍🏆 As the team prepares for the biggest test yet, Jayden Adams, club legend Tiyani Mabunda, and supporter Lindiwe Mashele carry the heart and hope of Masandawana into the second leg. 🙌 The journey continues, Watch Episode 6… — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 27, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Despite being the best team domestically — with eight successive Premiership titles — and one of the most consistent on the continent, lapses in concentration have plagued Sundowns' cup campaigns. The Brazilians have often conceded late, costly goals that have derailed their ambitions. They have suffered similar setbacks in Africa, including Mothobi Mvala's own goal in the dying moments of last year's semi-final second leg against Wydad Casablanca. With the need to score and avoid conceding in Cairo, Mvala has spoken openly about what must change for the team to progress. Final session before we jet off to Cairo. All focused on the mission ahead. 😤#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #RabatsenaGape — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 27, 2025 'Conceding in the last minutes of the game hurts a lot — especially when you look at the last few big tournaments,' Mvala said. 'In knockout games, that's when we actually lose concentration. The same thing happened against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final, Magesi in the Carling Knockout final, and Wydad. 'The only thing we need to do now is defend with the ball. Keep possession and not allow them to regain it or deliver crosses into the box. If you recall, in all our games towards the end, we always concede from crosses, and that's something we're aware of and trying our best to stop.' Mvala has not featured as much as he would have liked in the Champions League knockout stage due to a lengthy injury layoff. However, having regained full fitness, he is ready to contribute when needed — especially with a clean sheet being pivotal in the second leg. Mothobi Mvala after the victory in Egypt 🇪🇬 — K.L.16 (@LangaKhulekani) April 27, 2025 'Definitely, I am still part of the team. For me, it's about supporting the guys who are playing, because they've been doing well,' Mvala said. 'Grant (Kekana) has been doing well — I think he has played in almost all the games. Mosa (Lebusa) and Mali (Khozai) came in and have also done well. 'So, it becomes very difficult for the coach to take them out and put me in. I am happy with the way the coach has managed me. 'Hopefully, I'll get my chance, but the guys have been doing well. I just have to wait for my opportunity.' Sundowns have enjoyed productive trips to Cairo in recent years — including a 1-1 draw with Al Ahly in the semi-final second leg that booked their spot in the final. 'We've been lucky in Egypt, so hopefully that luck will be with us again against Pyramids,' Mvala said. 'Playing against them in Egypt is always going to be tough. The nice thing is that we've played them before. Hopefully, lady luck will smile on us again.'
TimesLIVE
28-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Mvala calls on Sundowns' experienced heads to be counted against Pyramids
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mothobi Mvala has called his fellow experienced senior players to stand up and be counted to help the team over the line in the Champions League final against Pyramids FC. The Brazilians travel to Cairo for the second leg at the June 30 Stadium on Sunday with the tie evenly balanced at 1-1 from the first leg at Loftus on Saturday and a winner must be produced in Egypt. Downs will lift the trophy with a win or a draw of 2-2 or higher and a 1-1 draw will take the tie to a penalty shoot-out. A 0-0 draw would see Pyramids lift the trophy on away goals. Sundowns have club and national performers with vast continental experience. Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Grant Kekana, Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Themba Zwane, Teboho Mokoena, Thapelo Morena and Jayden Adams were part of the Bafana Bafana squad that finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast last year. Mothobi Mvala calls on experienced players to stand up and be counted in Cairo. WATCH full interview ➡️➡️➡️ — Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) May 28, 2025 Chilean Marcelo Allende, Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro and Namibian Peter Shalulile have plenty of big Champions League matches under their belts. 'We really need experienced players to come to the party, especially in the change room, to push the guys so we can win this game,' Mvala said. 'We played Pyramids FC before and it's not going to be an easy game because we have to go and get a result that side.' The defender, who may play a crucial role in Egypt from the bench, has recovered from a long injury layoff. Mvala has been reintegrated into the team by coach Miguel Cardoso with recent substitute appearances against Magesi FC and Chippa United in the Betway Premiership. Despite their success on the domestic and continental front, Pyramids FC do not command great support at home — giants Al Ahly and Zamalek monopolise numbers in the stands with their huge fan bases. Mvala said that could work in Downs' favour. 'We know they don't have too many supporters and that can work in our favour. We just need to go out there and work hard from the start of the game until the end. 'In the first leg, we started well by not allowing Pyramids to put crosses into our box, it's just that we lost concentration in the dying minutes. We allowed that cross and we did not mark well into the box. 'This is something we need to work on for the second leg. We must kill the game off early in Cairo and to do that you need to score more goals. 'If you score three goals, you kill the game and their confidence. If you leave the score at 1-0, you leave the door open for them to come back. 'I hope when we can go that side and get at least three goals.' Sundowns took the lead via Ribeiro's 54th-minute strike at Loftus but Pyramids snuck a last-gasp draw through Walid El Karti's goal deep in injury time, seconds from the final whistle.
