Thapelo Morena of Mamelodi Sundowns (Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix)
Now, the former Bloemfontein Celtic attacker is potentially hours away from living his dream as Sundowns gear up to begin their title defence.
Masandawana open their campaign in Atteridgeville tonight as they welcome Ugandan side Kampala City Council Authority, with the second-leg scheduled for March 18 in Uganda.
“I am looking forward to playing in this game because the last time the team played in the tournament, I was not registered, but now I am going to be part of the team and I am willing to deliver more just like I have been delivering in the Premier Soccer League,” said Morena.
The pacey attacke, however, anticipates a tough encounter on Friday – given that they are defending champions – they will be under every team’s microscope.
“It is going to be a difficult and hard game for us, but we are going to work very hard to win games as we always do. One thing that I am sure off is that they have been watching our games and they know what kind of player I am. It will not be a surprise, they know what they are going to expect.
“We are going to give our level best, we are going to be there and we are going to fight. We want the cup again; we want to lift it because if we get the cup again, we will rewrite history again,” he said.
Morena’s natural playing position is the right wing, but Pitso Mosimane has on numerous occasions deployed the 23-year-old at right-back, a position he has since embraced.
“Right now I am playing in right back, and I am really enjoying it right now, it is my favourite. It enables me to create more spaces, I can go up and down and I can use my speed more effectively. I’m happy with the opportunity that I get to play as a right back.
“Every time when I get into the field of play I pray and hope that I do my best. During our training sessions I always give my best. With the game to that I have been having, I have been doing my best, it is something that I have been working on and I want to do more.”
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