Marumo Gallants interim head coach Raymond Mdaka believes they can challenge Algerian giants USMA in their CAF Confederation Cup clash today at Dobsonville Stadium.
Gallants started Group A with two wins from two over Al Akhdar and Saint Eloi Lupopo from Libya and DR Congo respectively but their blistering start came to a half in Algiers by USM Alger.
“We were finishing the last game of our first round, it was not an easy one because we had to travel to Algeria, it was a number of hours, we didn’t have that much time for resting, not much time for preparation,” Mdaka said about the 2-0 loss last week.
“But I think we had a very good game, [USMA] are a very good team – tactically they know what they are doing, I think we were caught up in the last minute of the first half, we conceded a goal and also conceded in the last minute of the second half.
“There are a few issues we had to look at, despite the temperature issues, the weather is so different there, it was so cold but I don’t think it has affected us that much, they just played to their strengths and used the chances they got.
“So it doesn’t make things harder for us to play them here [in South Africa]. They are a good team but we’re looking forward to a better game to qualify for the second round.”
Captain Lehlohonolo Nonyane reiterated that there’s confidence within the team that they can stand up to the 2015 Champions League runners-up.
“We know it’s not going to be an easy game considering we lost 2-0 away from home and our coach eluded that weather that side it was not easy, it was very cold, it was a very good team, well structured,” he said when asked about the fixture.
“We have to go out and work as a team [now], if you can check the game we played [in Algeria], it’s not like they dominated us, they scored the two set pieces which is something we are working on.”
Gallants host USMA in Soweto this afternoon with the game kicking off at 15h00.
