JOHANNESBURG – Baroka FC midfilder Mduduzi Mdantsane is banking on their international players to offload their continental experience from the past two weeks to club level when they face Wits in a Telkom Knockout semi-final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday (3pm).
In the last 10 days, Bakgaga’s best player so far this season, Talent Chawapiwa, was also in action for Zimbabwe in Afcon qualifiers.
“We’ve prepared well, and I know that those guys that went on national duty will come back with the experience and help us in the next game,” Mdantsane said.
“Wits are a big team and they are the defending champions, so they’ll not want to leave things just like that.
“It will be a tough match for us, but we don’t want to put ourselves under pressure, so we’ll go out there to play our normal game.”
While still campaigning in the Vodacom League – now known as the ABC Motsepe League – Bakgaga pulled off their first big upset as they knocked Kaizer Chiefs out of the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
Seven seasons later, they stunned eight-time Absa Premiership champions Mamelod Sundowns in the TKO quarters.
That victory was inspired by Mdantsane, 23, who donned the captain’s armband in the absence of Letladi Madubanya.
“It was a great opportunity for me because I had to grab it with both hands and not disappoint,” he said.
“It was good for me and the team because they’ve been supporting me.”
Preparing go idibatša Batho. #LennaKeMoroka pic.twitter.com/igD71I78wT