Champions League Will Not Define Our Season – Mokwena
While the club will go all out to win, the CAF Champions League trophy will not define Mamelodi Sundowns’ season. This is the view of head coach, Rhulani Mokwena as he prepares his side for what should be a formality 2nd leg quarterfinal against CR Belouizdad of Algeria.
“We are not obsessed with the Champions League,” Mokwena told the media at Sundowns’ Chloorkop training base.
“Will we win the Champions League? I don’t know. Can we win the Champions League? Absolutely yes. But not winning the Champions League will not define whether we failed or not,” stressed the coach who has already clinched the DSTV Premiership title with a handful of games still to play in the league.
The Brazilians carry a 4-1 advantage going into the second leg set for Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Not many people are giving the Algerian club much of a chance to progress to the semifinals. Head coach, Nabil Kouki is already looking towards next season.
Although Mokwena is downplaying the importance of winning the CAF Champions, Sundowns has taken a backward step in terms of trophies. Last season The Brazilians took home three trophies but are in the running for only two in the current season. For many football pundits, Sundowns has outgrown the local league and Mokwena’s success should only be measured by CAF Champions League results.
If, as expected, Mamelodi Sundowns advance to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League, they will meet either Simba SC of Tanzania or Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.
