Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach, Rulani Mokwena, has reacted to the CAF Champions League quarterfinal draw.
Sundowns were drawn against Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the last eight. Belouizdad will host Sundowns in Algiers on 24 April, while the return fixture takes place on 28 April at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
RULANI MOKWENA REACTS
“It’s a draw that we accept with a lot of humility but also a clear understanding that it’s going to be very, very difficult,” Mokwena said.
“Belouizdad are a very good side, even though they finished second in their group with 10 points. But they’ve had a very, very good campaign.
“And both in the Champions League and in the domestic league, where they sit number one, and even though they’ve played only 17 games.
“But the gap between number one and number two is maybe a little bit of a story that is similar to ours, where there’s a big gap of around 13 points between the two, the number one and number two.
“They’ve had they have very, very good players. They play also something very similar to a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 with a strong powerful Nigerian striker up front [Anayo] Iwuala and [Mohamed Islam] Belkhir their top goal scorer on five goals.”
Mokwena demanded more credit for his side after they won their sixth consecutive league title.
Sundowns recently won their sixth consecutive DStv Premiership league title on Saturday, 01 April.
Bafana Ba Style did this with just seven league games remaining. After SuperSport United, who were then second on the log, failed to win their game against Chippa United.
The sixth consecutive league title for the Chloorkop side made them the first-ever DStv Premiership side to achieve this feat in PSL history.
However, their history-making feats don’t only end there. They also became the first side to win the league with just seven league games remaining.
And currently holds the record for the most league titles won in the PSL era [13 league titles]. However, despite all the success, the Tshwane side have achieved this season.
Mokwena told Thabiso Tema on Power FM that he isn’t happy with the amount of credit his side received after achieving their sixth peat.
THE LACK OF CREDIT FOR SUNDOWNS
“This is the reflection of the amount of hard work the payers have put in,” said Mokwena
“That reflects how good we have been, how consistent we have been. And how difficult it is to maintain that level of consistency.
“Because the others couldn’t do it, And when you are able to do that. You need to be applauded and given a lot of praise.
“Maybe more praise than we are receiving, in terms of the players and the acknowledgements (…).
The Sundowns head coach continued: “We played on Tuesday, and the headlines on Wednesday in all the publications across the country have got Sundowns maybe back page or third.
“We have just won the league title. And the front pages or the back pages should be Sundowns,” concluded Mokwena on Power FM.
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