The Mamelodi Sundowns bounced back from their weekend CAF Champions League defeat away at Zesco United with a narrow 1-0 over Chippa United to book a place in the final of the MTN-8 competition.
It was Liberian international forward, Anthony Snoti Laffor, who came on to replace the Ivorian Yannick Zakri in the 51st minute, who scored the match winner for the Sundowns in the 76th minute.
With the first leg ending with a scoreless draw away at Chippa United, Sundowns advanced to the final with a 1-0 aggregate.
The Sundowns will face Bidvest Wits in the MTN-8 final on October 10, at the Mbombela Stadium.
Sundowns head coach, Pitso Mosimane, may continue to freeze Laffor out of Sundowns first eleven, but the veteran Liberian forward continues to prove that he is a key member in the squad every time he’s given the chance.
It was the 30-year-old attacker who again came on as a substitute in the 80th minute, bringing life into the Sundowns squad that lost away at Zesco United over the weekend.
Six minutes after his introduction against Zesco United, he assisted Khama Billat who got Sundowns’ important away goal.
Despite being denied a starting role, Laffor is happy that he remains one of the Sundowns’ key figures. He vowed to continue working harder to help Sundowns achieve more glory.
“Obviously every footballer will want a starting role in every team,†he told The Bush Chicken. “But for now, that is beyond my control. It is the decision of the coach. The most important for now is that I’m able to do my best whenever I’m given the chance. I am happy that I keep helping the team, and I will continue to work harder to help achieve more success.â€
The Sundowns will now focus on the return leg of the CAF Champions League semifinal clash at home against Zesco United.
Laffor believes the win over Chippa United is a big motivation for the upcoming encounter: “We are happy that we were able to reach the final of the MTN-8. I think the victory has boosted our confidence ahead of the match against Zesco at home. We lost the first leg not with a big margin. Now, the ball is in our court. We have to work harder to overturn the score. We respect Zesco a lot, but we are confident of getting the needed result.
The match will be played on Saturday, September 24 at the Lucas Moripe stadium.
Featured photo courtesy of the Mamelodi Sundowns
