JOHANNESBURG - With only two teams boasting the ability to successfully defend their Caf Champions League in it’s current format, coach Pitso Mosimane says Mamelodi Sundowns will set their sights on achieving the near-impossible when they begin yet another long journey in this year’s premier continental club competition on Friday.
The Brazilians were crowned African champions in October last year after beating Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate and now dream of emulating Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Nigeria’s Enyimba, who have previously won back-to-back trophies.
Five months after the club’s greatest triumph, Sundowns host Kampala Capital City Authority of Uganda at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in the first leg of their first-round tie this weekend.
It’s the match that will determine who goes into the group stages, which has now been divided into four groups instead of just two in a new set-up that follows an increase in prize money.
“It’s a big game for us,” said Mosimane, who gave his fringe players a run on Monday night in the 2-0 win over lower-division side Mariveni United to progress to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.
“We have to try and score a few goals because we can’t wait to get the job done away in Kampala on an artificial and small pitch. This team we are playing against won 7-0 in their last match. I sent a scout there and I got the game on tape. We have to respect them.”
Sundowns are the big scalp for many of their African counterparts in the Champions League this year because of their status as the holders. Mosimane expects that to be standard practice.
“It’s normal, and everyone prepares more. Last year we were a closed book because nobody knew us,” the coach explained.
“People were talking about how we got in through the back door (reinstated into the competition after AS Vita were disqualified), so we were underdogs.
“We have to get our players to love playing the Champions League, which gives you a chance to play for Bafana Bafana and win trophies, while making money at the same time.
“You have to be on a roll and avoid interferences when you want to defend this title. And by interferences I mean you can’t afford to let players go and you should not be having big injuries. But we are being disturbed a little.”
Mosimane admitted he can see the void left by winger Keagan Dolly, sold to French club Montpellier during the January transfer window.
“I really missed Keagan when we played (and lost 1-0) against Cape Town City last week,” he said.
“We are not saying we can’t play without him because we have won a lot of games without him, but that balance on the left is lacking.
“He knows how to play on the inside and outside, but (Themba) Zwane cuts outside with his right foot. Zwane is good with his ball retention, but the way we play has changed a little bit. We could play Percy (Tau) on the left, but he always wants to play as a No9 or 10 and face the goalkeeper one-on-one all the time. Hence we need to get a left-footed player in June.”
Mosimane is also hell-bent on holding on to his quality players if the dream to defend the Champions League is to become a reality.
“I always tell my players that if you don’t have an offer overseas then they should stay at Sundowns. Where else would you go? What are you going to achieve there? There is plenty to play for while you are here,” he said.