Preview of the game between Medeama SC and Mamelodi Sundowns

kwame

May 18, 2016 10:07 AM

A day to make or break for Medeama to upstage Sundowns to the group stage of Confederation Cup

Medeama have history beckoning on them and a jinx to break to make a name for themselves. Accra Hearts of Oak beat rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko on penalty shootouts in 2004 to win the maiden edition of the Confederation Cup, which was formerly known as Cup Winners' Cup.

In 2014 however, Medeama lost on penalties to AC Leopards of DR Congo at this very stage of the play-off at home after a 2-2 aggregate score. On Wednesday afternoon, the Tarkwa based club walks onto the pitch with two goals deficit after surrendering an early lead to be beaten 3-1 in the final ten minutes of the first leg in Pretoria.

Their Swedish coach then, Tom Markus Strand absconded from their hotel, Holiday Inn and left his resignation letter in his room. Strand later arrived peacefully in his home country. The club thereafter, appointed their technical director, Augustine Evans Adotey as the interim head coach.

Adotey says the team have strategized to score three goals although a 2-0 win is enough.

"A must win indeed. Yes looking at the South Africans, the other time it was obvious that we lost the game in terms of lack of concentration, complacency, a lot to mention. This time around the boys are psyched, we are ever ready for battle. We only need to score two unanswered goals or three. Two is okay but we've strategize to the extent that we want three goals to ensure that we qualify" he told Pulse.com.gh.

The Mauves and Yellow have progressed to the play-offs with 2-0 home wins over Al Ittihad (2-1 aggregate) and Al Shendy (2-0 aggregate) of Libya and Sudan respectively. If they are able to reproduce that same result, the club will ease their way to their dream land.

"It's not difficult, if we can create more than six, seven, eight chances and score two, it is enough. This time round we've sharpen our scoring abilities so we hope that by close of the day three goals at least will be scored" he reckoned.

There is a palpable belief within the club that they will make it this time, but the enormity of pressure on the young players is intense. Adotey asserts it's all about the game plan and he believes his lads will deliver.

"I know of this South Africans, they are matured and have the experience. We know them, they are of age. Looking at the type of game we want to play, we want to put them under pressure. Right from kick off we put them under pressure until we ensure that two, three goals have scored within the first 45 minutes so trust my boys to deliver the result. I am very sure, 90,95% sure that we are giving the whole Ghana three unanswered goals".

Evans Adotey won Medeama's first FA Cup in 2013 and hopefully fortune will smile on him to break the club through the group stage destination.

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