Menzi Magubane
Yimpelasonto yomlando ebholeni laseNingizimu Afrika, njengoba womathathu la maqembu amakhulu kuleli ezodlala kuma-quarter-final emiqhudelwaneni yawo yezwekazi.
NgoMgqibelo iMamelodi Sundowns neKaizer Chiefs bazodlala kwi-CAF Champions League kanti ngeSonto i-Orlando Pirates izodlala ku-Confederation Cup.
Akukaze kwenzeke phambilini ukuthi omathathu la maqembu adlale esigabeni se-knockout ngempelasonto efanayo. Ngakho-ke, bengakwazi ukuphakamisele phezulu ifulegi lezwe futhi banqobe?
ISundowns yilona kuphela iqembu elidlala ekuhambeni kanti vele selizinze eGibhithe futhi lilindele ukulwa nabaphethe isicoco.
IChiefs, ezodlala imidlalo yokuqala emdlalweni wama-knockout, izokwamukela iSimba yase-Tanzania e-FNB Stadium ngehora le-6 ntambama. Ngokusho komdlali wasesiswini uNjabulo Blom, bakulungele ukuqhubeka nefomu labo eliyisimanga kulo mncintiswano.
“Njengoba kuyi-knockout yasekhaya neyasekuhambeni, kubalulekile ukuthi singangenelwa amagoli ekhaya. Kodwa sidinga ukushaya amanye amaphuzu futhi senze izimpilo zethu zibe lula uma sesidlalela ekuhambeni,” kusho uBlom.
ISimba iqembu elizimisele kakhulu futhi ikufakazele lokho ngokushaya i-Al Ahly kweyamaqoqo.
“Ukuthi bahamba phambili eqenjini labo baphinde bashaya i-Al Ahly, kukhombisa ukuthi bayiqembu elihle. Ngakho-ke, ngeke sibabukele phansi.
“NjengeKaizer Chiefs, siqinile ngokomqondo futhi siwulungele lo mdlalo. Yebo, sidlalile ngoLwesithathu kodwa bona abazange bedlale kanti thina besidlala naphakathi nesonto nangezimpelasonto isizini yonke. Sesijwayele.”
Khonamanjalo, iPirates nayo idlalela ekhaya ibhekene neRaja Casablanca yase-Morocco. Lokhu kuhlangana kuzobanjelwa e-Orlando Stadium ngeSonto ngehora le-3 ntambama.
IBucs nayo idlale phakathi nesonto kanti umqeqeshi wayo uJosef Zinnbauer akazange ajatshuliswe yindlela abadlali bakhe abenze ngayo ngaphambi komdlalo wangeSonto.
“Sinomdlalo omkhulu ngeSonto, futhi mhlawumbe namakhanda abadlali asecabanga ngeSonto. Kodwa leyo akuyona indlela efanele, kufanele siqale sidlale umdlalo osesandleni bese sigxila kwelandelayo,” kusho uZinnbauer.
Umthombo wesithombe: @CelebsNow