After making history by becoming the first club to engrave their name on the African Football League (AFL) trophy, Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana says that they are hungry for more success and they are now aiming for the bigger prize, the Caf Champions League.
Sundowns outclassed Moroccan heavyweights Wydad Athletic Club when they showed them who is boss following their 2-0 victory (3-2 on aggregate) during their second leg final at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium last week Sunday.
Kekana, who did not feature in the final and was replaced in the Bafana Bafana World Cup qualifiers squad due to a hamstring injury, says winning the AFL has done nothing but heighten their confidence – that they can once again defy the odds and write their names in the history books of African football once again by winning the Champions League this season.
“Winning the AFL will give us the much-needed confidence going into the Champions League,” Kekana told Sunday World during an exclusive interview this week.
“Playing in the tournament was a great experience, the level of competition was high, and I must admit that it took our level even higher.
“Like the coach [Rulani Mokwena] said, our success was written in the stars because all those we beat, had knocked us out in previous Champions League knockout stages – now we managed to beat them and ultimately made history by becoming the first team to win the tournament.
“So, the AFL has given us that motivation that we are headed in the right direction and that we are capable of going all the way in the Champions League because we played against eight of the best teams in the continent.”
The first and last time Sundowns won the Champions League was in 2016 under coach Pitso Mosimane. They came close last season when they were eliminated by Wydad on an away-goal rule without losing a single match.
With all the financial muscle and squad prowess, Masandawana will go all out in their quest to clinch the ultimate prize. They will kick-off their Champions League campaign against FC Nouadhibou of Mauritius in their Group A clash at the Loftus on Friday evening.
