Johannesburg - Khama Billat might have been the star of the Mamelodi Sundowns show this season but the stage that he and his other teammates shone on was held by the broad shoulders of Hlompho Kekana.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane will look at Kekana to continue doing that, as the curtain is about to fall on the 2015/16 season. But if Sundowns are successful in the CAF Confederation Cup, than their next season will start as early as late next month where their strength will be tested in the continent.
In a constantly changing central midfield pairing because of injuries and suspensions, Kekana added the element of consistency with his quality performances and work rate whether he was paired with Bongani Zungu, Soumahoro Bangaly, Mzikayise Mashaba, Asavela Mbekile, Teko Modise or even his recent partner Tiyani Mabunda.
“Leading a team like Mamelodi Sundowns is a big challenge,” Kekana said. “But I have managed to carry that challenge and I am here today as a league champion because of that. We are capable of much more. We are at a stage where we are looking to go further than dominating South African football.
”It’s a good thing then for Sundowns that they have a Kekana who describes himself as a “30-year-old boy” who has many “years to give to South African football” as his contribution will be vital in that bid for African dominance. Mosimane and the club president Patrice Motsepe are obsessed with being African champions.
AS Vita rudely reminded them that they were not there just yet, when they eliminated the Brazilians from the CAF Champions League. But they picked themselves up well in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs, thumbed Ghana’s Medeama 3-1 in the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Sundowns arrived in Sekondi Takorandi on Sunday night looking to protect that lead and book a place in the group stage.
Because of their good performance in the first leg, Sundowns aren’t desperate to score against Medeama, as keeping a clean sheet would guarantee them a place in the last eight.
But if they’re to go further in the continent they need to improve their performance in front of goal away after they failed to score in two of their three Champions League matches. The only goal they managed on the road came through the boot of Kekana, with one of his famous thunderbolts that he produced in Congo-Brazzaville against AC Leopards.
Almost all the goals he has scored this season have been memorable.
“I would say that the part of my game that has improved the most this season is scoring goals,” Kekana said.
“I have enjoyed scoring goals in the past but now because of the guys who are there for me, they encourage me to be in scoring positions. I do it for fun now because they love it when I score. The goals I score are always memorable.”
The Star