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Cape Town - SuperSport United defender Tefu Mashamaite believes their tough journey to the CAF Confederation Cup final prepared the team for the first-leg away to TP Mazembe on Sunday.
Matsatsantsa have travelled all over Africa in a taxing campaign up to now, and Mashamaite takes the view that Eric Tinkler's side have become battle-hardened by their experiences.
"The most important thing for us is not to focus on what they have done in the past because that will be dangerous. It is going to be important to play the game and not the moment," he told reporters.
"We have experienced this kind of situation before. I remember when we were in Madagascar‚ Liberia‚ Tunisia and Zambia - the odds were stacked against us because those teams considered to be more experienced.
"They had the edge over us and on the day we managed because we believe in what we were doing. Circumstances like those gave us motivation to get going and it is not going to be different in Mazembe.
"It is going to be hostile‚ tough but the guys have gained enough experience. The Congolese are very hostile but we must look at it as an adventure and the mind will interpret it as a positive."
Kick off is at 15:30.
