What Sundowns Ladies learned from Champions League final humiliation

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach, Jerry Tshabalala, has explained what his troops learned from the CAF Women’s Champions League final humiliation on Sunday, writes Tlalane Phahla.

Moroccan side ASFAR Club dethroned the Brazilians; Sundowns Ladies as African champions with four unanswered goals at Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Sundowns played the most part of the game with 9 players as Zanele Nhlapo and Rhoda Mulaudzi were shown red cards for poor tackles.

Fatima Tagnaout scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, while Ibtissam Jraidi netted a hattrick to complete the rout.

Despite being short, Sundowns Ladies still created chances but could not convert them.

TSHABALALA CONGRATULATES ASFAR

Tshabalala congratulated ASFAR and stated that Downs Ladies were a better team on the night.

However, he stated that they must go back to the drawing board to correct their mistak.es.

“It was a different one we needed to give it our all and did give it our all I think credit must go to our players,” said Tshabalala.

“The first 15 to 20 minutes, we pressed ASFAR very high it was just an unfortunate situation there in the penalty area.

“We need to go back and look at ourselves and say look how we approach them, especially when we meet them again.

“We have learned a lot from this game,” he continued.

He also gave a positive update on Boitumelo Rabale, who appeared to have sustained a severe injury.

The Downs coach said the Lesotho international is okay, and the doctors are treating her.

UPDATE ON RABALE

Tshabalala stated that they will now focus on their domestic league and try to recover.

“My message is do not despair, we have learned the hard way.

“And we will go back and rectify whatever that we felt we didn’t do right,” he added.

“It was expected of us to win today, it’s sad to see us lose with a heavy score, but not all is lost,” he said.

“We still got a league that we need to go back home and finish.

“The good thing about it is that we have already wrapped it up, and we will bounce back again.

“We are the champions, and we will bounce back strong.”