Marumo Gallants FC coach Dan Malesela expressed his optimism following the draw for the Carling Knockout semi-finals, where they face Mamelodi Sundowns.
After Sundowns convincingly defeated Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 in the quarterfinals, Gallants must prepare for what could undoubtedly be a challenging encounter.
In the quarterfinals, Gallants edged past Stellenbosch FC with a narrow 1-0 victory, embodying the cup competition’s motto, “Fak’Ugesi.”
Malesela is eager to advance and emphasizes the importance of proper preparation. “I must be excited to reach the semi-finals. We try and plan to progress.
“Playing Stellenbosch on Wednesday (31 October in the Betway Premiership) provided us with a clearer understanding of what to expect,” he remarked in an interview with KickOff.
Malesela acknowledged the difficulty of facing Sundowns but insisted that the game should be approached like any other. “You cannot avoid these things; we could have faced them in the final anyway,” he noted.
The former Sundowns defender was adamant that fear should not hinder his players. “One of the biggest challenges is to remove fear from your players. If they approach the match too worried, they may not progress.”
He has remained confident in his team’s capabilities, stating, “We need to be smart and relaxed against Sundowns. After losing 4-1 in the league, we have nothing to lose now.”
With the belief that his side can score against any opponent, Malesela has set his sights on a determined performance, declaring, “We will just need to remove fear.”