It’s time to wrap it up – Letsholonyane

Matsatsantsa A Pitori are facing the prospect of becoming the first side in the Southern Hemisphere to walk away with the Caf Confederation Cup (in its current format) when they host the defending champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Suspension forced ‘Yeye’ to sit out the 2-1 first-leg defeat in Lubumbashi this past Sunday. However, his absence allowed teenage-sensation Sipho Mbule to star in the heart of Eric Tinkler’s midfield, scoring a brilliant long range beauty to give Matsatsantsa hope ahead of Saturday night’s clash in Atteridgeville.

“It was a good performance from our guys, one away goal and we need to work hard to wrap it up at home. It was a good performance considering that most of our players who played on Sunday haven’t been playing so many games,” Letsholonyane told reporters.

Whether Tinkler will retain Mbule in the starting line-up or opt for a relatively safer option in veteran Letsholonyane, remains to be seen.

“Now it is back to the normal set-up, I will be working hard to be part of the team Saturday if I get selected to play. For me it’s what I’ve always been doing in terms of contributing to the team’s performance and then trying to fight and help my teammates to win the game,” said the ex-Jomo Cosmos midfielder.

“They [Mazembe] are a good team, but they are beatable. We saw that when we created a lot of chances in the first half but we didn’t convert,” he added.

The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has won every domestic trophy on offer, and at age 35 with a mileage of over 10 years in his legs, he is keen to add the Confed’ Cup to his glittery trophy cabinet.

“It would be a great feeling and a great achievement to be an African champion because I have won everything locally, what’s left now is the continental one. We have an opportunity to get one… it will be a big achievement for me personally.”