Have faith in us – Malete
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday February 26, 2025 17:00
The team is staring elimination in the face in the preliminary round after suffering a 2-0 first-leg defeat in Francistown last week Thursday. Failure to beat DRC will end the Mares' successive appearance at the WAFCON finals. The two teams clash at the Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs at 5pm. In a press briefing in Kinshasa on Tuesday, Malete said the Mares' home defeat was their own doing as he felt his side was the better of the two teams. The team is not enjoying the best stay in DRC after their bus was attacked earlier in the week. Malete further told the press briefing that the team had to wait an hour on numerous occasions for the stadium lights to be switched on for their evening training sessions.
The coach also bemoaned the lack of team escort from the police. Malete has, however, urged fans to have faith in the team. He said mental preparedness is more important for this evening's clash. He said the Mares had half expected the incidents in the DRC and their focus is solely on getting a win over their opponents. Malete said the team has done its homework over the DRC and the first leg loss provided further insights on the home side as he believes the Mares are well prepared to overturn the score line. 'Have faith in us, we know what is at stake. The most important thing for tomorrow's game more than the tactics is the mental preparedness of the team. I think we are there and we are ready for tomorrow and I can assure them (local fans) that we are capable of turning the score line around,' Malete said. 'We have done what we are supposed to do and we know it is going to be a difficult match, and it is difficult as it is here. But in terms of being focused, we are very focused on the match. We can feel the energy in the group and we are very positive,' he added.
The Mares are unbeaten away in the WAFCON qualifiers phase since 2021. The team boosts three wins and a draw in four outings. The team has an impressive goal-scoring record with 11 goals but would be worried they have failed to keep a clean sheet after conceding in the four outings. The winner of the two-legged tie will take on South Africa in the second and final round of the qualifiers to be played in October.