Sundowns’ Motsepe recalls lessons taken from Petro de Luanda defeat

Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Thlopie Motsepe has recalled the hard lessons they took from being knocked out by Petro de Luanda in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal last season.

Sundowns suffered a 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Angola before they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Luanda-based club in front of the Yellow Nation at FNB Stadium.

This was a shock outcome for Sundowns, who were top contenders for the title after they amassed more points than any team in the group stage.

Motsepe says they learnt that any team can get the better of them particularly in the knockout stages.

However, ‘Tlhopie’ believes that the Tshwane giants have the capacity to secure the continental glory in this campaign.

LESSONS TAKEN FROM PETRO’S DEFEAT

“It’s about understanding being humble when you enter the Champions and knowing that anybody can beat anybody once you get into that knockout round,” he said in the World Football Summit Africa at ICC Durban.

“I believe that we have learnt our lessons of last season.

“More than anything, I was in the changeroom when we lost to Petro de Luanda, there was a lot of reflection and soul searching at that time.

“And I think we have learnt some important lessons as a football club.

“This season, we have a lot of faith and belief on what the coaches can achieve and what the team in general can achieve, they’re a very good group of young men with some senior members and players who have seen this before.”

This season, the DStv Premiership champions along with other five teams were exempted from the first preliminary round, others being Wydad Casablanca, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Raja Casablanca, Al Ahly and TP Mazembe.

In the second round, Rulani Mokwena’s men whipped Seychelles’ La Passe 15-1 on aggregate to book a spot in the group stages.

Sundowns are yet to learn their group stage opponents after the Champions League draw was due to take place on 16 November was postponed.

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