Marumo Gallants have already knocked Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Carling Knockout once, but coach Ronnie Kanalelo knows the challenge will be no easier this time around, warning that the reigning African champions have always been dangerous – long before their current era of dominance.
Kanalelo, a former Sundowns goalkeeper, will come up against his old club in a repeat of last season’s quarter-final, when Gallants eliminated Masandawana on their way to reaching the final, where they eventually lost to Orlando Pirates.
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However, Sundowns head into this season’s competition with further silverware already secured, having won the MTN8 and the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, while continuing to compete at the highest level on the continent.
Kanalelo believes Sundowns’ reputation has been built over many years, pointing to their consistent recruitment of top players and ambition to compete for trophies both domestically and in Africa.
“They have always been dangerous, since my days [there], nothing new about it – you know, Sundowns always went for the best players, so the objective has always been clear, they are all about titles, competing in Africa,” he said.
The Gallants coach added that Sundowns’ ambitions have continued to grow, with their ability to attract quality players from across the world helping sustain their position among the country’s leading clubs.
“But now again, their objectives are even higher, the PSL for them, they use it to get where they want to, that’s why they attract players from all over the world, they pay good wages, it’s a club where the best players want to go to… they have always been dangerous, nothing new,” he added.
Kanalelo also stressed that Sundowns’ strength did not emerge overnight, explaining that the club had established its reputation long before his own time there.
“It’s not something that has happened overnight, Sundowns were even dangerous before my time there at the club,” he concluded.