Kaitano Tembo says SuperSport United’s focus is on CAF Confederation Cup, not Nedbank Cup

SuperSport United caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo

SUPERSPORT United caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo says their focus is firmly on their CAF Confederation Cup match against TP Mazembe, and not Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final.

Matsatsantsa square off against their Congolese opponents in a top-of-the-table Group D clash tonight, before meeting Orlando Pirates in the Ke Yona showpiece at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

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“These two games [against TP Mzembe and then Orlando Pirates] are very big for us, but with different requirements. If we can get a draw against Mazembe, we can still qualify [through the group stages] if we beat Horoya,” Tembo said.

SuperSport, Mazembe and Horoya FC sit level in Group D with five points each, with United leading the standings on goal difference, and Tembo knows the importance of a positive result against second-placed Mazembe on home soil.

He continued: “It is very important that we get a victory against Mazembe. We have three teams sitting on five points and whoever doesn’t get a result, it will become difficult to progress, especially if Horoya beat CF Mounana in the other match.”

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Having drawn 2-2 against Mazembe in the reverse fixture in Congo, Tembo added that they now know what to expect from them now.

“It is going to be no different from when we played them there. We know what they are, they are the current champions of this competition,” Tembo said.

“They’ve got experience of playing in Africa each and every year. It’s not going to be an easy game, even though we are playing at home.

“When we played them there [in Congo], I think the first 25 minutes was a little bit difficult for us. The conditions were very intimidating and nerves.

“But once we settled down we realised that they can be beaten as well. We started to play our normal game and we forced them to make mistakes and that favoured us and their crowd were against them.” kickoff.com