Rulani Mokoena, the coach of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, has shed light on the elements his team needs to clinch the title of the ongoing CAF Champions League.
During the pre-match press conference ahead of the encounter with Mazembe in the final round of the group stage, Mokoena stated, “We need a bit of luck like Al Ahly to win the championship.
In the previous season, for instance, before the final match in the group stage, Al Ahly was already out of the tournament, but they came back and won the title in the end.”
He added, “Look at what happened in the last Africa Cup of Nations. There was no distinction between a big or small team. We have to work hard to achieve our goal with a little luck.
Ivory Coast won the tournament; they were already out but qualified after the last match in the group stage. They proved themselves afterward and clinched the cup, and the same thing happened with Al Ahly.”
Regarding Sundowns’ victory in the African Super Cup, Mokoena commented, “We played in Cairo against Al Ahly there. In the first half, a penalty was awarded against us, and then we played with a numerical disadvantage.
As a team, you have to show your courage, spread your wings to win and qualify. We want to do that to win the CAF Champions League.”
He concluded, “I believe it’s a title we can achieve in the future, within reach. We have to give our all every time; luck must favor you in football.”
