Sundowns not worried about failing in Africa

MAMELODI Sundowns' desire to claim another Caf Champions League title remains intact, but the fact that they've recently made signings to help them in that regard doesn't mean they will have sleepless nights if they come up short this season.

After winning the last four Premiership titles, the Brazilians have proven to be no match for their South African rivals. And that's why they've set their sights on conquering Africa again, having achieved that feat in 2016.

But African club competition is such that only the fittest survive and that is why Sundowns once again were busy in the January transfer market. At home, they tied down the most prized player Teboho Mokoena and the experienced Surprise Ralani from SuperSport United and Cape Town City respectively.

And there was business for them in South America once more as they signed Bolivian international Erwin Saavedra. All three players were registered for the Champions League with the hope that they will help the team win the competition.

Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mnqithi is not naive, though, to think that they will just claim the continental crown after bringing in these new acquisitions. Instead, he emphasised the importance of going pound-for-pound with their African rivals.

“We are looking at our competitors in the Champions League and we are trying the best we can to get the team to that level. We want to make sure that we are at a state where we compete at almost the same level as them,” Mnqithi said.

“We all have one mentality which is to win the Champions League. All these years, even when we didn't win it, our plan was to win it. That's why we are fighting to be in it every season. Signing is always influenced by trying to be better.

“We are hoping to get there. I would not regard not winning the Champions League as a failure (for us). But it's something that I wouldn't want to experience. We'd all love to see Sundowns winning the Champions League (again).”

Mokoena and Ralani have hit the ground running at the club, scoring in their first Cup and league match respectively.