Modiba speaks on keeping emotions in check against Rulani Mokwena

Rulani Mokwena and Aubrey Modiba at Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Aubrey Modiba has spoken out on managing the emotions of facing Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger in the CAF Champions League.

The Tshwane giants will face MC Alger in the second Champions League group-stage match away from home in Algeria this upcoming Friday. Sundowns kicked off their 2025/26 season group phase campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Brazilians collected maximum points courtesy of goals from Marcelo Allende and a brace from the highly-rated Portuguese star Nuno Santos.

With Sundowns gunning for another three points in the next match, they will face a difficult task against the Algerian side coached by Mokwena, who would have inside knowledge of Masandawana players.

WHAT AUBREY MODIBA SAID ABOUT FACING MOKWENA

Aubrey Modiba in a media day at Mamelodi Sundowns
Aubrey Modiba at Mamelodi Sundowns. Picture courtesy Nhlanhla Matshoma/FreshOnSnaps

Interestingly, Alger lost their first match 2-1 to Al Hilal, making their upcoming encounter against Sundowns a must-win. Downs defender Modiba has admitted that all the players are looking forward to facing Mokwena for the first time since the coach left the club in July 2024. However, the Bafana Bafana international stressed the importance of remaining professional.

“We had a very good relationship with the coach [Mokwena]. It’s going to be a nice feeling to play against him because it never happened before,” Modiba told the media. “Everyone is looking forward to the game, even as guys we were speaking about it, that it’s going to be nice seeing him in a different gear.

“But we are professionals, we have to do what we have to do. We know how he plays, and it’s going to be a tough game for us in Algeria. It’s never easy, but we have a team that is going to pull up a fight irrespective of who is the coach, but it will be a nice feeling to see him again.”

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