Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tebogo Mokoena has revealed his big promise to Masandawana chairman Thlopie Motsepe when he signed for the club.
Mokoena, 26, joined Sundowns from SuperSport United in January 2022 and won the domestic treble in his first six months at the club.
Last season, Sundowns added another league title and Mokoena was named PSL Footballer of the Season, with his improvement under Rulani Mokwena for all to see.
But despite going unbeaten in last season’s CAF Champions League and beating record champions Al Ahly 5-2 at home, Masandawana exited the competition in the semi-final, with Mokoena revealing he promised Motsepe they would get their second star after 2016.
“Also about the project… Obviously I’m so old because when I look back, because usually I look back and check where I come from and the way I used to play, and right now I’m miles ahead, I’m definitely miles ahead,” he said when asked whether he has bought into the Downs project.
“Also my mentality has changed a lot. And when you arrive in this environment, your mentality changes. You just have to change the way of life, the way you treat people.
“Funny enough, when I got here I used to greet everyone sitting down. But when you get here, it doesn’t matter who you’re greeting, it can be a child, but we must stand up, that’s the culture of the team.
“That’s how we are taught here. It’s one of the things that I’m seeing, like I was told when I got here and also I’m enjoying my football. I mean I enjoy my football, but it’s been tough. And it will always be tough, because the competition is very tough. And that is what is making us to always improve and to keep on winning and winning and winning.
“Because we want to get better every time and and I’m not happy as yet because when I promised the chairman that we’re gonna win the Champions League. So, yeah, we’re still working on it.”
Mokoena, though, insisted Sundowns fans also have to up their noise levels when African teams visit, as they themselves always face hostile crowds on the continent.
“Last year when we played Wydad [in the] second leg, I think what first let us down was they couldn’t sing the whole game and for us when we play away games we can’t even hear our voices in the field because the fans are singing,” he added.
“The whole game they are boo-ing us but when they come here at home our fans are just quiet and that is what is letting us down as South Africans.”
Sundowns take on Petro de Luanda in the second leg of their African Football League quarter-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium today, having won the first leg 2-0 in Angola.
