Thapelo Morena: Sundowns ready to ‘sweat blood’ for CAF Champions League progress

Mamelodi Sundowns utility player Thapelo Morena says the club are prepared to “sweat blood” to reach the CAF Champions League group stages and believes they have a strong chance of retaining the title.

The defending champions must beat Wiliete SC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday in the second qualifying round second leg after being held to a goalless draw in Angola last Sunday.

Another 0-0 result in Pretoria would send the tie to a penalty shootout. Any score draw would see Wiliete qualify for the group stages, with Sundowns eliminated.

“We are going to put everything into the pitch, we are going to sweat blood and no matter what, we are going to go through,” Morena said.

Sundowns have been widely regarded as contenders to win the competition in successive seasons, based on their performances and quality this campaign. Morena said the squad shared that confidence, pointing to the club’s record of winning the league title eight consecutive times.

“As a team, it’s something we take as a responsibility and believe in [defending the title]. We can and we’re willing to do it because we have done it at home in the PSL,” he said.

“And now we have the experience after winning. We know that teams will also come all out against us, no matter who is there. But to be honest, when we come here at home on our soil, we know the difference. We’re going to give our everything. That’s the most important thing to do on the pitch.”

Wiliete frustrated Sundowns during the first leg, and Morena acknowledged that the South African side had not performed as well as they could have. However, he said playing at home offered them an opportunity to put that right, with Sundowns having been outstanding on their own ground.

“I think this game is the most important one for the team to reach the group stages. We have been in the group stages for the past 10 years, and it’s one thing as a team we want to achieve,” he said.

“To be honest, we could’ve done better and things didn’t go well because of what happened. But the most important thing is the game we are looking forward to.”

Morena said Sundowns understood the significance of Friday’s match as they seek to maintain their record of reaching the group stages for the past decade.

The club’s immediate task is to secure victory at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, with anything less than a win potentially ending their defence of the CAF Champions League title before the group phase.