Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger are in town from Algeria, with Sundowns set to host them on Saturday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium at 15:00.
Looking ahead to the tie, Vilakazi is urging Sundowns to tap into the driving emotions from the second half of the 1-1 draw with Saint-Eloi Lupopo at the Stade TP Mazembe in DR Congo last weekend.
Vilakazi says Sundowns need to tap into the energy from that halftime talk.
SIBUSISO VILAKAZI ON MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS MC ALGER
Sundowns face a must-win clash. They’re placed third in their four-team group with six points, while leaders Al-Hilal have eight.
MC Alger sit in second place with seven. For Kabo Yellow, there’s no room for error, only victory or possibly a draw keeps them in the competition.
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“We shouldn’t be finding ourselves in this position, but we are there. How can we find solutions? Which they did find solutions and brought themselves back into the game,” the former Sundowns maestro added.
“I just wanted to find how they felt. Was it anger? Was there a lot of disappointment, whereby you can use that anger now. To understand and feed from it.”
A LOUD CALL FOR TEAM SPIRIT
Vilakazi explained that the players should channel their anger positively, using it not to lash out at others but as controlled aggression, fighting for the ball, making decisive passes, and reacting immediately when possession is lost, driving into the box to create opportunities.
“So, yeah, man, I think that for me, that mindset of having to turn it around and say, we cannot lose this game. We cannot lose this game. And also those lessons for me is to say, how then we build from it?
“It hasn’t been so good, to be honest with you. We haven’t been that team, but within having to fight, it’s been some time. And we miss that beauty.
“And then I’m saying that beauty, when we miss it, it’s time for us to come back for it. Because we’ve had that beauty for the longest time and it’ll be so sad not seeing us coming out of the group,” the Soweto-born former star concluded.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS MESSAGE TO SUNDWNS PLAYERS?
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