Mamelodi Sundowns captain Denis Onyango says the club is eager to add the second CAF Champions League title into their cabinet.
Masandawana defeated Egyptian giants, Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate in 2016 to win the competition for the first time in their history with Onyango playing a crucial role in their historic triumph.
The Ugandan keeper and the Brazilians’ are in Egypt where they will play two games before returning home, and Onyango is confident that they will strengthen their lead on the Group A table by collecting six points.
Downs, who are on top of the group with three points, will play Sudanese outfits, Al-Merrikh this afternoon at 15:00 and will have to stay in Egypt to battle with Al Ahly on Friday.
“I think we are looking forward to the encounter, of course, is the home game, but away from home,” Onyango said in the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
“For us, it’s all about executing and trying to get maximum points as much as we can. It’s not going to be an easy game as a coach says because they are an experienced team, but what’s important for us to try to get good results because we’re going to be here for a very long time.
“The best results for us are the ones that will take us to the next game, which is Al Ahly, so it’s very important for the players to stay focused on trying to win the game with a lot of precaution because Al-Merrikh is an experienced team, but we also have the capacity to win the game.”
Onyango went on to discuss the level of the competition in Group A, which was described as the Group of Death alongside the Sudanese giants and the reigning African champions.
“It’s a very, strong competition. That means a team that has been together for a very long time. I think the 2016 team was together for a very long time with experienced players. And we’ve struggled a little because we lost a few of them. The team had to change because in football, players go, some come,” he explained.
“But I think the most significant thing is for us to try to gel and know the most important thing for us to win the Champions League because we constantly struggled like last year against the champions, a few mistakes here and there, but I think we learn from those things.
“And I believe that we’ll take these lessons to the next chapter, which is this year. With the new team, we have a lot of good quality players and good fighters, who believe that we can go all the way.
“It’s always difficult to play the Champions League without experienced players who know the type of football is played in the Champions League. But the few guys who have stayed around in previous years, I think they will help us and help the team to go as far as we can.”
