Mamelodi Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba says the team is determined to reclaim the Betway Premiership title after missing out on a record-extending ninth consecutive league crown last season.
The Brazilians had dominated the league by winning eight successive titles before Orlando Pirates ended that run by claiming their first league championship since 2012.
Modiba said that while winning the CAF Champions League – the biggest prize in African club football – was a major achievement, losing the league title was difficult to accept because many of the players are not accustomed to that feeling.
He added that the team will do everything possible to earn the gold badge again, saying they cannot wait to begin their league campaign – a marathon they know very well how to navigate.
“We want to win the league again,” said Modiba.
“The feeling was not nice losing the league cause some of us have never experienced that.
“We want to go back of winning the league every season because you win it, you go back to the Champions League.
“And we always want to do well in the Champions League, get our gold badge back.
“But congratulations to Pirates, they deserve it and we go again this season, another marathon that we know very well how to run, let the games begin.”