Sundowns shifts focus to continental football
By Neo Poho
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena has reiterated that Sundowns' CAF Champions League encounter against CR Belouizdad will be a difficult one.
Sundowns head into the encounter on Saturday night in an unfamiliar territory after struggling to register a win in their last four matches in all competitions.
With their 25-match unbeaten streak in all competitions coming to an end last week at the hands of Stellebosch FC in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, Mokwena wants his team to respond positively as their quest for a second CAF title is still alive.
"The recent poor run is certainly a wake up call, we know that going to Algeria will be something difficult for us particularly with the traveling and trying to map our way between the domestic fixtures.
We also know that Belouizdad is a very good team even though they finished second in their group during the group stages, they have also had a good campaign in the Champions League and the domestic league too," Mokwena said.
Sundowns advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition after an impressive run in group B finishing as the group winners ahead of Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
With no other domestic title on the chase for Mokwena's charges anymore, the CAF Champions League remains the only focus Sundowns will now set their sight towards.
The match on Saturday will be played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algeria and Mokwena has expressed his heartfelt respect to the late icon.
"We need to play the game and not the occasion of turning out at a venue named after South Africa's iconic former President, and focus on getting the away win to earn a significant advantage in the two-legged tie.
This is also an opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation to him[Nelson Mandela] or maybe there will be the emotional connotation that is attached to playing at a stadium named after him[Nelson Mandela] ," Mokwena added.
Although the traveling arrangements towards the match may seem to have taken a toll on Masandawana, Mokwena believes his team has an experienced staff and a set of a strong support system that can handle the demands of a trip like going to Algeria.
"We have already had two training sessions where we are working on football and moving into a bit more specific work about what to do for the match, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes with video sessions and trying to profile the opposition.
We are also trying to analyse our performances and see where we can get better and improve."
The encounter will also see VAR being used in the match, kick-off at the Nelson Mandela Stadium is 21:00 South African time.
Elsewhere, in another CAF Champions League quarter-final clash on Saturday night, Raja Casablanca will lock horns against Al Ahly at the Cairo International Stadium.
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