Downs won’t rest on their laurels
IF THERE were any thoughts of Mamelodi Sundowns’ hunger for continental football success dissipating after an almost unprecedented period of success for a South African club‚ Brazilians coach Pitso Mosimane has put them at rest.
Mosimane has said that after Sundowns matched Orlando Pirates’ feat of winning the 1995 Caf Champions Cup (Downs have won the modern Champions League version) and then the 1996 Super Cup‚ now the club have set their sights on defending their 2016 ACL title.
Mosimane said Sundowns – intent on establishing a pedigree in international football – are going about the task with all seriousness‚ and have sent scouts out to research their first round opposition.
Sundowns had their performance analyst‚ Goolam Vadodia‚ in Angola this past weekend to report back on the preliminary round second leg match between Premiero da Agosta and Uganda’s KCCA.
The tie was won on away goals by KCCA (Kampala Capital City Authority) after a 1-0 victory at home and 2-1 defeat in Luanda‚ making them Downs’ first 2017 Champions League opponents on the weekends of March 10 to 12 and 17 to 19.
“We are serious about the Champions League. Goolam is an Angola to tell us how it went‚” said Mosimane.
“And we have got footage already from KCC‚ from playing [in their league] in Uganda. And we know everything.
“Goolam has to check the hotels‚ and we already know where we are going to stay in Uganda.
“It’s a big thing. It’s good for the country. It’s good for the national team. You’ve got to push and try and win.”
Sundowns became only the second SA club to win the Super Cup with their 1-0 win against 2016 Confederation Cup winners TP Mazembe at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night. — TMG