When Teboho Mokoena trots onto the turf of the June 30 Stadium this Sunday at 7PM, he’ll carry the weight of a promise he made to the club’s chairman, Tlhopie Motsepe.
At the height of his excitement upon joining the Masandawana juggernaut in January 2022, ‘Tebza’ made a huge commitment.
The Bafana Bafana star is expected to play a key role as the Brazilians take on Pyramids FC in the second-leg of the CAF Champions League final on Sunday. After a 1-1 draw in the first-leg in Pretoria, the 27-year-old midfielder believes the team is now on the brink of something special and insists they cannot let this golden opportunity slip through their fingers.
The Free State-born star says this moment has been in the making since his arrival at Sundowns. He now carries the significant weight of a promise – made by his coach – to win the biggest club trophy in African football.
“I am sure we will give our best and lift the trophy on Sunday,” Mokoena told Sundowns TV. He acknowledged they didn’t perform to their full potential in the first-leg.
“I don’t think Pyramids played against the Sundowns we knew last Saturday. I think we were nervous. In the second-half, we came back better, but in the last minute, we lost our focus and conceded a goal,” he added.
‘I MADE A PROMISE TO THE CHAIRMAN’ – MOKOENA
The drawn first-leg means the contest remains evenly poised as they head to the decisive match. However, Mokoena isn’t one to dwell on past performances.
His attention is solely on the opportunity before them as players, the fanbase and management who have made CAF Champions League success a long-standing goal.
“It was very difficult and sad. We thought we would win the match, but things did not go as we planned.”
The gritty midfielder, who hails from Bethlehem, recalled the commitment he made when he joined the club three years ago.
“Winning the title would mean a lot to me because when I signed in January 2022, I made a promise to the club president that we would win the CAF Champions League title. I think the time has come for us to win the Champions League for the club president and our fans. I think everyone deserves the trophy because they always talk about it.”
The South African champions are aiming for their second star, having previously won the title in 2016. This marks their third appearance in the Champions League final, following their participation in 2001.
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