By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA
MAMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has rated Nkana as the best team the South African side has played during their week-long mid-season training camp in Zambia.
Sundowns beat Nkana 1-0 in an international club friendly on Thursday at Arthur Davies Stadium to end a two-match losing run since arriving in Zambia on January 10.
Mosimane said in a post-match interview at Arthur Davies Stadium that Nkana’s performance against his side showed they were deserved winners of the 2013 MTN/FAZ Premier Division League title.
“This was the strongest game of three we have played. It was highly competitive, action packed, forward attack and very good for everybody to watch,” Mosimane said.
“You could see we were playing the champions of Zambia, you could see this is Champions League material we wish them all the best they have a good team.”
And Mosimane said he was also impressed with Nkana striker Ronald Kampamba.
“I like the famous number nine “Sate Sate” but we managed to close him down today because we knew he would be a problem,” Pitso said.
Sundowns, however, floored Nkana in the 45th minute thanks to an Elias Pelembe back heel after some sloppy defending by the champions in their first competitive game in 2014.
Prior to beating Nkana, Sundowns lost 3-2 to Power Dynamos on January 11 and 1-0 on January 15 to DR Congo side Don Bosco at the ongoing international four-club tournament at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola that ends today.
Sundowns face Zesco United in their final game of the round robin tournament this afternoon at Levy Stadium.
Meanwhile, Nkana coach Masauso Mwale said he is satisfied with the team’s performance despite the defeat.
“I am happy and this is our first game and I think I we will do much better than what we did here. And as you know first games are always tricky,” Mwale said.
“This game was not about winning or losing it is about gauging our strengths and our weakness before we play our game (against Mbabane Swallows).”
Nkana visit Swallows on February 9 in Swaziland to play a 2014 CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg game.
