Sundowns target Carling Knockout response after Champions League exit

Mamelodi Sundowns will look to recover from their disappointing CAF Champions League exit when they face Marumo Gallants in the last 16 of the Carling Knockout at Loftus Versfeld Stadium today (19:00).

The Brazilians were eliminated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Angola’s Wiliete SC on Friday. The result saw them go out on away goals and meant Sundowns failed to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time in more than 11 years.

Midfielder Tashreeq Matthews said Sundowns had to respond quickly by returning to winning ways.

“That’s what we have to look forward to, I think the next one is a very important one. We’ve to overcome it and get back to winning ways and get over this feeling, win again and continue from there,” Matthews told the club media department.

“I think that will make things a bit better than what it is.”

Sundowns remain involved in several competitions this season, with the Carling Knockout, Super Cup, Fifa Inter-continental Cup, Nedbank Cup and Betway Premiership still available to them.

Although Matthews acknowledged the difficulty of moving on from their European disappointment, he said the team remained determined to compete for the trophies ahead.

“I think after the game, we’ve to reflect but it is also important that we take the steps forward and continue. It is difficult to get over what happened, but at the end of the day, you have to take the step forward because you have to continue,” he said.

“There are more things that need to be won, yes, it is the biggest title in Africa to win but we still have a lot of trophies to look forward to and to win.”

Gallants coach Ronnie Kanalelo insists his side will not surrender the tie to the reigning South African champions and believes Sundowns can be beaten.

“What we are saying is that Sundowns are beatable, and as long as they are beatable it has happened before in the past in this competition. That’s what we are looking at. We are not going into this game handing it over on a silver platter, we are going to work for it, and they are also going to work for it. That’s the only thing I know,” Kanalelo said.

Gallants defeated Sundowns at the same stage of the Carling Knockout last season before reaching the final, where they were beaten by Orlando Pirates.