Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams says he is ready for what’s the biggest game of his career thus far as he looks to help the club secure a second star this season.
Adams, 23, joined Sundowns from Stellenbosch in the January window, in what was one of the most high-profile transfers on the continent, as he starred from the Cape Winelands outfit and the South Africa national team.
With a taste of the Confederation Cup, where he helped them advance from the group stage, he’s now thrusted into the elite competition, with both Sundowns and Stellies in the last-four of their respective inter-club competitions this season.
Adams might be a novice, with this his debut campaign in Africa, but he’s well aware of the threat the record and reigning champions Al Ahly possess in the knockout stages.
“I think the preparation is going well after coming from a loss against Chiefs, going into this one, especially Sundowns are a very good team against another one, in Al Ahly, it’s a nice experience for us and we’re prepared well,” Adams said.
“The focus is more on us beating them here, so away it’s very difficult [in Cairo]. We need to score as much goals as possible here to make it easier for ourselves going away, where they are very good in the Champions League, they know how to win trophies.”
The Bafana Bafana international says they are past the Nedbank Cup exit against Kaizer Chiefs and just fully focused, as is the rest of the squad in what will be a momentous fixture of their careers.
“The mood is good, the [Chiefs game] is behind us now, we move on to the next one, so I think they mindset and focus from the players is on Al Ahly, we’re preparing well,” Adams said.
“I think this is the biggest [game of my career so far], I’m very excited and especially because it’s a CAF game, the club wants to win trophies, wants to get another star, so we’re going to work on that.”
Sundowns host the Red Devils for the first leg semi-final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon (15h00).
