Mamelodi Sundowns’ hard-working midfielder Jayden Adams would have preferred to play the first leg of the CAF Champions League against Morocco’s AS FAR away so that they could get the advantage of playing the return match at home and have the possibility of lifting the trophy in front of their supporters.
However, on Sunday, Sundowns will get a chance to start the two-legged CAF Champions League on a high when they host the Moroccan dark horses at Loftus Stadium in the first leg. The return match will be played next Sunday at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.
I’d want to lift trophy at home
“I do not think playing the first leg at home is good for me, personally. I would want to lift the trophy here at home,” said Adams at the media day ahead of the first leg.
“It was the same last season, we went that side for the second leg, and it was very disappointing, and also in 2016, the last match was also an away game. So, it will be for three times in a row now that the SA team is playing the last leg away,” he added.
‘PSL title hope for Downs’
Adams also believes that there is still hope for the Brazilians to win the Betway Premiership. This is after Sundowns were nailed 3-2 by TS Galaxy on Tuesday and the result effectively handed the league title to second-placed Orlando Pirates, who have two games in hand.
“Yeah, there’s still hope that we can still win the league, you know. We’re still top of the log, so the pressure is on them [Pirates],” Adams said.
Quest for CAF second star
But Adams says after finishing their league programme, their main focus right now is getting the much-sought-after CAF second star so that they can take part in the next FIFA Club World Cup.
Sundowns made a good impression at the Club World Cup in the USA last year.
“If we win, we qualify for the Club World Cup, you know. It’s a massive achievement for us,” Adams added.
“There’s also a lot of pressure on us because we haven’t won anything this season, but pressure can work for us because we are going to show up and do our best. I didn’t play against AS FAR last year so I don’t know them, but for us as a team we just focus on ourselves. The match will be very difficult because we have just suffered a loss,” added Adams.
- Mamelodi Sundowns will host Morocco’s AS FAR in the first leg of the CAF Champions League at Loftus Stadium, with the return leg in Rabat next Sunday.
- Midfielder Jayden Adams would have preferred to play the first leg away to potentially lift the trophy at home but acknowledges the reality of playing the first leg at home.
- Adams believes Sundowns still have hope to win the Betway Premiership despite a recent 3-2 loss to TS Galaxy, with Orlando Pirates leading but having games in hand.
- The main focus for Sundowns now is winning the CAF Champions League to earn a second star and secure qualification for the next FIFA Club World Cup.
- Adams notes the pressure on the team due to no silverware this season but views it as motivation to perform well, stressing a team-focused approach against a tough AS FAR side.
Mamelodi
However, on
“I do not think playing the first leg at home is good for me, personally. I would want to lift the trophy here at home," said Adams at the media day ahead of the first leg.
"It was the same last season, we went that side for the second leg, and it was very disappointing, and also in 2016, the last match was also an away game. So, it will be for three times in a row now that the SA team is playing the last leg away," he added.
Adams also believes that there is still hope for the Brazilians to win the Betway
“Yeah, there’s still hope that we can still win the league, you know. We’re still top of the log, so the pressure is on them [Pirates],” Adams said.
But Adams says after finishing their league programme, their main focus right now is getting the much-sought-after CAF second star so that they can take part in the next FIFA Club World Cup.
“If we win, we qualify for the Club World Cup, you know. It’s a massive achievement for us,” Adams added.
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