Mokwena: ‘The ambition to win Champions League is a dream, not an obsession’
Rulani Mokwena has hinted that Mamelodi Sundowns are capable of winning the CAF Champions League again given the quality the club boasts.
Masandawana won the Champions League for the first time in 2016 while they were still under the tutelage of Pitso Mosimane.
Sundowns will play their last group stage encounter against Coton Sport at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, 1 April 2023.
The red-hot Brazilians have already booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and will continue their quest to win the title.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash, Mokwena noted that “the ambition to win the Champions League is a dream, not an obsession”.
RULANI MOKWENA HAS A DREAM TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
“We have the capacity to win the Champions League. If I don’t have the belief I shouldn’t coach Sundowns,” Mokwena told the media.
“We have very good players that have an ambition of being in that space [winning Champions League]. And my answer to you, it’s yes I believe so.”
The 36-year-old mentor went on to say that it won’t be a walk in the park looking at the teams that have already qualified for the tournament’s quarterfinals.
“But it’s not going to be easy. If you look at the quality of the teams that are in the quarterfinals already, teams like Raja for example haven’t won the league since 1999.
“But these are teams that have been trying to win the Champions League and competing and working towards that space for many many decades,” he added.
“And that already shows you that we don’t have any God-given rights to consider ourselves favourites to win the Champions League as we have to work really hard.”
‘THE AMBITION TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS NOT AN OBSESSION’
“At the same time, this is the message I said to the players, the ambition to win the Champions League is not an obsession, it is the same ambition that comes from a space where we want to win a league title for example. That’s a dream and the dream that we hope sooner rather than later so we can turn into reality,” reveals Mokwena.
“The ambition to win the Nedbank Cup comes from the same space as the ambition to try to win the Champions League. It’s a dream and the same way with the Champions League.
“The ambition to win Champions League is a dream, not an obsession. Obsessions come from darker spaces where you can even capitulate if you don’t reach the target.”
The ex-Orlando Pirates coach continued: “But a dream is one that maybe you are allowed to dream again. And you have the energy to go again and again and again. Eventually, Mamelodi Sundowns will win the Champions League for sure.
“It might not happen this season, maybe it happens next season or the other season. But our performances and the desire, and the work that we put in every single day must reflect the dream and the dream of trying to win the Champions League. It’s a positive dream which we will try to turn into reality even though it will take a lot of hard work.”
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