Mazembe, one of Africa’s most successful sides, will aim to retain their crown on Saturday when they battle SuperSport United in the final carrying a 2-1 lead from the first leg in Lubumbashi.
While the likes of Mahlangu believe Mazembe are no longer what they used to be, the Congolese giants cannot be taken for granted and SuperSport need to dig deep to get the required result at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
“Mazembe are a strong team, but they are not as strong as they used to be. We will all be there at the stadium, so we are going there to celebrate. It’s in the players’ hands. [Coach Eric] Tinkler has experience of coaching in the Confederation Cup, having done so with Pirates. Even though he did not win it with Pirates, he has gained a lot of experience. We stand a good chance of winning the game,” says Mahlangu, who is a Matsatsantsa ambassador.
“Being in the final of a competition like this is a one-in-a-life-time thing. It does not happen every day, so the players need to give everything to win it.”
Mahlangu is hoping the wide players Thuso Phala and Aubrey Modiba will be in good form, so that they whip in dangerous crosses into the box for goal poachers Jeremy Brockie and Bradley Grobler.
“It’s important that they do not concede at home because going forward they have players who can score like Brockie and Grobler. When Thuso comes from the right wing you feel that the team is going to score. It’s the same when Modiba is attacking from the left. When the wingers are on form, then the likes of Brockie and Grobler can do the job.”