Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has assured that the Tshwane giants will win the CAF Champions League again.
However, he said it might not be this season and it can be next season, but Sundowns will win the Champions League again.
Sundowns are already through to the quarter-finals of the competition, booking their spot with two games to spare after crushing record winners Al Ahly 5-2 in Pretoria.
Mokwena’s side, to be sure that they remain on top of Group B, will have to win against Cameroon’s CotonSport at Loftus Stadium later tonight (21:00).
Sundowns beat Cotonsport 3-1 in Cameroon, and have been beating teams at ease since Mokwena took over the hot seat in town in October last year.
Just like they have been hot to handle in the DStv Premiership this season, they have been too hot to handle also on the continent, though Mokwena ruled out that his side are favourites to win the competition when clubs like Wydad Casablanca and Raja are still there.
Based on how they have gone about their business, they have raised the stack that they might add the second star on their crest after winning this competition in 2016 under legendary coach Pitso Mosimane.
But Mokwena, who was Mosimane’s assistant coach then, said, as much as they want to win the competition, they will have to double their effort to make it a reality this season.
“Eventually, Mamelodi Sundowns, we will win the Champions League, for sure. Eventually,” vows Mokwena.
“It might not happen this season, maybe next season. Maybe it will happen in the next season. But our performance and the desire and the work that we have put in every single day, must reflect the dream.
“And the dream of trying to win the Champions League is a positive dream and one we live for every single day. We work for every single day to try and make sure that we turn this dream into reality.
“It is something that we know is possible. But we know it will take a lot of hard work.”
Sundowns, who last reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2018/19, where they lost to Wydad, have been dumped out in the quarter-finals in the last three seasons.
The Tshwane giants will know who they will face in the quarter-final this time around when the draw is conducted on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt at 20:30 local time (18:30 GMT and 21:30 East Africa Time).
