Mamelodi Sundowns confident of returning the African crown back to Pretoria

Mamelodi Sundowns’ camp is high on confidence that they’ll be crowned the ‘Kings of African Football’ when the final whistle goes in Cairo.

Sundowns will face Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final second leg at 30 June Stadium on Sunday night (7pm kick-off).

They are on a bit of a backfoot as Pyramids scored in the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Pretoria, resulting in the Pharaohs taking home an away goal advantage.

But Sundowns have ample confidence that they can turn the tide in the second leg as the draw at home last weekend was due to their own doing.

Speaking to Mamelodi Sundowns TV on ‘Road to the Final of Finals: Episode 9’, midfielder Teboho Mokoena reflected on what went wrong for them at home a week ago.

“I am sure that we’ll pitch up and do our best, and lift the trophy,” Mokoena beamed with positivity, before going down memory.

“I don’t think Pyramids played against the Sundowns that we know last Saturday (back in Pretoria).

“I think we were nervous, we were not free. Of course, in the second half we came back better, but in the last minute we lost concentration and conceded.

“It was very tough, and sad. We thought we had the game. But it didn’t go the way we planned. 

“One thing for sure, if we had to decide to take a team that has lost or through the game that must win (the next game) should be Sundowns.”

Mokoena has every reason to believe that they can go all the way and win the continental showpiece. After all, he made a promise that he needs to fulfil.

“It will mean a lot (to me to win it) because when I signed in January 2022, I made a promise to the chairman that we will deliver the Champions League - I didn’t say when,” he recalled.

“I think now is the right time to deliver the Champions League to the chairman (Tlhopie Motsepe), and our fans - I think everyone deserves the trophy because they speak about it.

“They just don’t know how hard it is to win it. I know that it will mean a lot to everyone who supports Mamelodi Sundowns.”

Winning the Champions League would also mean a lot to goalkeeper coach Kennedy Mweene as that will complete a full circle in his career.

Mweene initially won the Champions League with Sundowns back in 2016 when they beat Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate.

Then he was still one of the club’s goalkeepers alongside Denis Onyango, who’s still part of the squad, and Wayne Sandilands who has long left the club.

“It would mean a lot to me because I won it as a player, so now - not when but - after winning it, it’d have won it both as a player and coach,” Mweene explained.

“I remain positive. I know that we will. For me, I am very fortunate because not everyone gets to be in the space that I am in.

“But, at the same time, I always tell people: respect football and football will respect you. It’ll be one of the greatest gifts this year - not if but - when we come back with the trophy.”