“It (late goal) will deflate you but champions are born out of such tragedies and you just have to show resilience,” Komphela said.
Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela has issued a message of defiance following his side’s 1-1 draw against Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld.
Lucas Ribeiro’s second-half goal had put the home side ahead, but Walid El Karti’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser silenced the Brazilians’ faithful and handed Pyramids a vital away goal.
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The result means Sundowns must now score in the return leg in Cairo to have any hope of lifting their second Champions League crown, nine years after their first.
Speaking after the match, Komphela struck a composed yet defiant tone, urging the players to regroup and focus on the second leg where they will be under pressure to produce a good performance.
“It (late goal) will deflate you but champions are born out of such tragedies and you just have to show resilience and mental strength. The minute you drown yourself in that sorrow, then you won’t rise,” Komphela said.
“It’s very important to say okay it has happened but did I lose or did I learn? The lessons we picked up here should take us forward. Pyramids know that they have a problem as well because in as much as they scored away, but we’ll have to go back to Cairo and make life difficult for them.
“They are a good team and they also have a good backing and you don’t reach a CAF Champions League final by fluke. These guys came here and you saw they played and we’ve seen in their own domestic league that they are impeccable. They have a lot of good players but Sundowns is equally a good team.
The coach praised the quality of the opposition but made it clear that Sundowns are equally formidable. The decisive second leg will be played on Sunday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo where a goalless draw will see Pyramids crowned champions.
With experienced campaigners like Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, and Khuliso Mudau in the squad, Komphela is confident the team can handle the pressure.
“Sundowns is very experienced and we have been through rough terrains,” the 57-year-old added.
“You have players like Mokoena, Williams and Mudau and apart from being experienced at club football, they come from the national team and they have impeccable national team experience and exposure.
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“So we are not going to chicken out, we played in Morocco and we were courageous and we went to Al-Ahly and we were courageous too and we came through. Nothing will stop us, and without being arrogant, but we have to go there and play our game.”
