Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has sent a message to Orlando Pirates and the South African football fraternity ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup final.
Pirates face RS Berkane in the final of the continental club competition on Friday with the chance of securing their third CAF inter-club title in their history and put aside the memories of losing the same competition CAF Champions League final over the last decade.
For all the criticism directed at co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids for their lack of silverware in the domestic scene, they have the chance of becoming continental champions after an outstanding campaign in the competition which Mngqithi eluded deserves respect and support from the entire nation.
“It’s very encouraging to have a South African team competing in that space, that should ignite a fire in all of us as South Africans,” he said. “If we are patriotic enough, we really have to support and show we believe one of ours stands a chance of conquering the continent in that space.
“One would not even want to mince words and wish Orlando Pirates well in the final and wish that they can bring it home. Maybe it will bring a glimpse of hope to South African football and South Africa in general, to see one of our teams lifting a continental tournament [trophy] like that.
“They’ve done very well and we have no doubt they have the capacity to win it and the confidence I have in Mandla, Fadlu and the whole team – suggests to me, they are a team that has the capacity to win it.”
The Soweto giants will take on the 2019/20 champions of the competition at the Godswil Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria at 21h00 this evening.
