TTM co-coach Mpho Maleka has revealed the secret behind their famous victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final played in Tshwane on Sunday.
TTM wrote their own history in South African football when they qualified for the Nedbank Cup final in their maiden season in the PSL after beating Sundowns 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out at Loftus Versfeld.
The Limpopo-based side will now meet Chippa United in the final after the latter also edged out Pretoria Callies in the first semi-final played at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
Maleka said his team established a proper game-plan to beat Sundowns
"For us, the game plan on how we approach them, we said – ok, the best solution for this game, as we learnt from the last game against Sundowns, was to play without fear," revealed the former Moroka Swallows striker.
"Secondly, let's try to press them high when need be, and lastly what stood out was our 3-5-2 formation, which we worked hard in identifying their strength.
"Their strength was to go [wide] and if you do that, they are capable of changing to come through the middle, which means tactically they have to change, and we were ready.
"We knew if we lock the wingers or wing backs and central midfielders, that's where we thought we are fine, we can deal with that.
"Also, they are good runners off the ball, that's why we kept shouting and reminding [the players] that's what they can do. Once we dealt with that, they felt frustrated.
"That's where we said, you know what, we are on for this game, chances will be there. The game plan was all about denying them space to play, because they can play between the lines. We are happy the players executed the game plan."