AS FAR fell into our trap says Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala

It’s their third successive final having been crowned winners in the inaugural competition two years ago, but were put to the sword by the Moroccan outfit 12 months ago following a 4-0 drubbing.

Tshabalala says a lot of preparation went into this week’s encounter to clinch the tie through a Boitumelo Rabale goal.

"I once said I watch all the AS FAR games and I did say, first 60 minutes they are a very good side. They are strong, they're gonna come at you and I told the girls, we just need to maintain them but I know that in the last 30 minutes of the game, they will break. Hence you saw the different performance from the girls in the second half, they fell into our trap," Tshabalala said.

The coach adds that having several players being part of the Banyana Banyana team and playing against the very best, was half of his job done to face quality sides like AS FAR in the Champions League.

"When I was in this press conference, I was asked if AS FAR was our hoodoo team and I said, we only played them twice let's see when we play them for the third time if they beat us then I will say it is our hoodoo team,” Tshabalala added.

“With the players coming from the national team, they add a lot of value. Why am I saying that? It's because of the experience they've gained playing the African Women Championship [The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations], it gives them that experience because they play with the players at the highest level."

Just as AS FAR players make up the bulk of the Morocco national team, beaten by Banyana at the WAFCON last year, Sundowns also used their own assets to take down one of the strongest clubs in the women’s game.