Tembo keeping faith in youngsters

Matsatsantsa will need to find a way past Kenyan side Gor Mahia at the Lucas Moripe Stadium tonight.

Tembo fielded the likes of Sipho Mbule, Jamie Webber and Luke le Roux in the first leg in Nairobi, and has vowed to give them a chance again tonight.

“The youngsters who played are still going to play again today because we have confidence in them … we always have an obligation as a club and as a technical team to always make sure we put out the strongest team available on the day, a team that will perform to the requirements of the club,” said Tembo.

READ: Gor Mahia optimistic ahead of SuperSport clash

The 47-year-old mentor anticipates that Mahia will try and absorb the pressure from the home side.

“They will try and sit back because they have the advantage at the moment because they are leading 1-0. There is no need for them to rush but the important thing for us is to try and make sure we break them down and create as many opportunities as we can as well as ensuring we don’t give anything away.”

After reaching last season’s final against TP Mazembe, Tembo does not want to see his side fail to progress in the last hurdle before the group stages. Instead, he wants Matsatsantsa to be regular participants in the Confederation Cup.

“We reached the final in the last edition so it means we don’t want to be eliminated in the preliminary rounds after that achievement. It is always important that when you play in these continental tournaments you always show your face and be there all the time,” he said.

“It builds confidence and it improves the brand of the club, people will know you and players get used to it. If you wait for another four years before you go back again it becomes a problem,” the caretaker coach added.

Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits take on Nigerian side Enyimba in Calabar today after the first leg of their play-off ended 1-1.