Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Gamondi is confident that his new club, Yanga FC can upset the South African champions in the Caf Champions League quarter-final first leg on Saturday.
The Brazilians are one of the favourites having lifted the African Football League earlier in the season, but that doesn't scare Gamondi who coached Sundowns in their 2005-06 campaign.
READ: Nange After Chiefs Exit: I Am To Blame
Back then he had steered Masandawana to the PSL title along with joint-coach Neil Tovey, so he understands South African football very well and that could work in favour of the Tanzanian club.
"It is my former team, I was champions with Sundowns in 2006, I have a very nice souvenir. On one hand, I'm very happy to play against Sundowns, it is a team that I love because of the thing you did well (there) you always keep this feeling because they play the kind of football similar to us," Gamondi said, according to the Guardian.
Young Africans were in a tough group with defending champions Al Ahly SC and ran them close but ultimately finished second. Gamondi believes that if they can show the same grit and determination they had displayed against the Cairo Red Devils, then they have a good chance of upsetting the Brazilians.
"We need to fight, to put in more effort than Sundowns. As I said earlier when we played Al Ahly, the issue is a little bit (that we are) handicapped by experience.
"All the players in Tanzania, even in the national teams, don't have this experience of playing crucial games at the top level," Gamondi said.
"This was the difference between us and Al Ahly in the two games. We made a mistake here and there while Al Ahly committed mistakes and won.
"Johan Cruyff always says football is a game of mistakes and sometimes this lack of experience makes you commit mistakes. But I am very positive, optimistic and we will face Sundowns and we can create a surprise," he continued.
READ: Rhoo: I Was Never The Best Player
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
