Sekhukhune book place in Confederation Cup group phase

Sekhukhune United booked their place in the group phase of the African Confederation Cup on Sunday, drawing away in the Democratic Republic of Congo as they continued a strong debut performance in the competition.

Substitute Tiklas Thutlwa scored a second-half equaliser at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa to force a 1-1 draw with St Eloi Lupopo and ensure that Sekhukhune advanced 5-3 on aggregate after their first-leg success in Polokwane.

They join SuperSport United in the group phase of the competition and now await the draw at the end of this week. SuperSport had booked their place on Friday by beating Gaborone United 3-0 in Polokwane after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Botswana.

“It was a very, very tough game, excluding the travel, excluding the fact that we played on an Astro turf and the heat as well at times was unbearable,” said coach Brandon Truter after the game.

“But today was all about character. I think everybody that was called upon, each player did really well. They knew what was required here. We didn't rest on the fact that we had a two-goal lead.

“They put us under pressure, we knew coming here that our lead wouldn't be safe and they put us under pressure from the first whistle. And then we conceded the early goal and they exerted even more pressure.

“But it meant they left so much space behind them and we did really well by playing into those spaces and then, of course, playing on the counter. But it was more about the character, the attitude of wanting to win. It's not an easy place to come to,” added Truter.