Former Orlando Pirates defender Mark Fish has thrown his weight behind Mamelodi Sundowns as they prepare for Al Ahly in the second instalment of their Caf Champions League group game, dubbed the African Derby.
Fish formed part of the 1995 CAF Champions League winners squad, where they went on to beat ASEC Mimosas in the final over two legs by a 3-2 aggregate scoreline. ThisIsFootball.Africa caught up with the Bafana Bafana legend to discuss Sundowns’ chances for the big game.
The first group game in Cairo ended in a scintillating 2-2 draw with the versatile Thapelo Morena scoring the crucial equaliser to salvage a point for Sundowns.
“Sundowns are setting the example for South African teams going to Egypt and getting a 2 all draw there is a fantastic result and very significant,” Fish told ThisIsFootball.Africa.
“Now Al Ahly are coming here to SA. I expect Sundowns to win because at the end of the day you have got home advantage and you need to play good football. You have to do everything to get the result and it is Al Ahly, so you never know, but they are not the team that was voted the club of the century. I do expect a tough game but I expect Sundowns to win.”
Fish also captained Orlando Pirates in 1996 when they beat JS Kabylie in the CAF Super Cup and in the same year he was part of the historical Bafana Bafana squad to lift their maiden Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
“The way Sundowns dominate the local league and then going into Africa is really important for us to measure ourselves and that is exactly what they are doing.
“The Al Ahly-Sundowns rivalry is key, in the end we want to know how close or how far we are in comparison to the rest of Africa. I want them to go and win it but we got the Moroccans, the Algerians, and I think they will win 2-1. I hope they win because we need it as South Africans.”
Sundowns are currently on top of the group with seven points while Al Ahly are third with four points. Al Hilal are second with six points.
Mamelodi Sundowns entertain Al Ahly at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, March 11.
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