Despite dropping points during the CAF Champions League match against Maniema Union, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi is still happy that his team escaped the encounter without injuries on Tuesday.
Mngqithi made several alterations in his starting line-up and dropped Peter Shalulile, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau, and Iqraam Rayners from the team that played against Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final in Bloemfontein last Saturday.
The Brazilians brought in Kobamelo Kodisang, Erwin Saavedra, Malibongwe Khoza, Divine Lunga, Thapelo Morena and Arthur Sales against Maniema Union.
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However, the changes could not yield any results after the 2016 champions of the inter-club continental competition dropped two important points at home.
Masandawana will travel to Morocco on 7 December to face FAR Rabat, a team coached by Nasreddine Nabi last season, for their next Champions League assignment.
"I think we gave a good account of ourselves," reflected Mngqithi in the post-match press conference.
"It was not easy to make the line-up and tactics and everything else to prepare for this game because one, we didn't have time, and number two, our players were loaded physically and we thought they might end up having injuries.
"It's a win for us that we didn't get injuries and that means we still have a full squad, otherwise we had a lot of players that didn't take part in this game because they had some niggling issues. Some with hamstrings, some with groins, and we had to juggle around and start a team we felt was mobile enough to cause problems to this team.
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"I think we controlled the game well, I think we got ourselves into good positions. Unfortunately, we did not score goals because, in the CAF Champions League, in home games you expect to try to win your home matches", he added.
The Brazilians are now set to switch their focus to domestic football and hope to dust themselves up when hosting Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.