A former multiple league winner with Mamelodi Sundowns has revealed why the Chloorkop-based side have an 80% chance of reaching the CAF Champions League final, with Al Ahly the next challenge.
Sundowns have advanced to the Champions League semi-finals after earning a hard-fought 0-0 second-leg draw against Esperance in Tunisia for a 1-0 aggregate win having triumphed in the first leg in Tshwane.
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"I'm impressed with Sundowns, the boys played well. You know, when you play away, it's always going to be difficult," notes John Tlale, who was part of the glorious Sundowns side of the '90s that won the league three seasons on the trot.
"From now on, anything can happen since their next opponent, Al Ahly, is no longer the same team we used to fear.
"They are beatable.
"Going into the semi-final, Sundowns' chances of winning the tie are 80%."
The former goalkeeper is, however, concerned with the drop in performance by Iqraam Rayners, who came on as a substitute on Tuesday.
"He is starting to lose confidence. It will be so much better if they start with Rayners in our next game against Al Ahly.
"Yes, (Arthur) Sales is not a bad player. He is improving, but all along, Rayners is the one who was carrying the team when Peter Shalulile was off-form."
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Tlale went on to commend Miguel Cardoso's men for not being intimidated by the Esperance crowd, with 50 000 fans in attendance at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.
"Sundowns were not at their best, you could see they had come for a draw. They had no shot at goal (Editor: Sundowns had two shots on target, one of which rattled the woodwork from Marcelo Allende), but I like the fact that they focused on the job at hand."
