The Story Is: Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Rulani Mokwena, has said that although winning the CAFCL is a dream for Downs, it is not an obsession.
Sundowns have already qualified for the quarter-finals, with a game to spare, which they will play on
Saturday 01 April against Coton Sport at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, kicking off at 21:00.
"We have to work hard for it [to win the Champions League], that’s always the priority and this is the message I sent to the players," said Mokwena.
"The ambition to win the Champions League is not an obsession, it is the same ambition that comes from the space where we want to win the league title. That’s a dream and it is a dream we hope we can turn into reality sooner rather than later.
"The ambition to win the Nedbank Cup comes from the same space as the ambition to try to win the Champions League.
"As Sundowns, we will win the Champions League. It might not happen this season, maybe it happens next season or the season after. But the performances and the work we put in every day must reflect the dream.
"The dream of trying to win the Champions League is a positive dream and one we live and work for every day."
Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/03/why-pirates-must-be-wary-of-richards_31.html?m=1
The Fact Of The Matter Is: Sundowns should actually be more than obsessed about winning the CAFCL.
They have won everything there is to win in South African football. They are well on their way to lifting a sixth league title in a row, with a possibility of winning it with more than 20 points.
That speaks of domination, that speaks of a team that is far ahead of the rest.
But it is in Africa that Masandawana are yet to flex their football muscle. Since winning the CAFCL title in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane, Downs are yet to stage another serious assault for the coveted trophy.
They looked good to go last season, before choking against Pedro Du Luanda in the quarter-final stage.
Once again this season, Downs look like a team that can go all the way.
And go all the way they must, because all that is left for them to achieve is to conquer Africa once again, before they move on to bigger things like hunting for a Fifa Club World Cup medal.
In A Nutshell: No one really cares whether Sundowns wins the Nedbank Cup or any other local title anymore. That is expected of them.
But for them to be mentioned in the same breath as Al Ahly SC, and the likes of Wydad Casablanca, Downs must win another CAFCL title.
It must be their sole obsession.
No comments:
Post a Comment