Sundowns draw CR Belouizdad in Champions League quarterfinals

Mamelodi Sundowns drew Algerian side CR Beloluizdad in the quartefinals of the Caf Champions League and the match will take place on the weekend of April 21st to 23rd.

Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena already has already mapped out a plan on how to navigate the quarterfinals as he insists his side will continue to send out scouts to Algeria and bring back footage and notes ahead of the two-legged affair.

“When we play against teams in Africa, we go right into their games against other teams in the Champions League and we look at every player that they have used and we check the notes and work hard. We do that because the universe responds to work ethic, it is the only language that it understands. What happens after that is up to the divine,” said Mokwena.

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The former Orlando Pirates mentor was an assistant coach at Sundowns when they claimed the Champions League in 2016, recalling how the group of players led by Hlompho Kekana took time to make a mark on the continent, and Mokwena says his current team may have made their presence felt on the continent, but they need to be given some patience in this competition.

“It is a group that shows a lot of promise and they need to be given fair opportunities to make their own mark and write their own history and create their won legacy at the club,” said Mokwena.

“The squad that delivered the Champions League, before they eventually did, I can remember how many times we tried and if you remember, when we won the Champions League we were eliminated. You have to be fair to that group and fair to this group. This group needs a fair amount of chance to leave its own football story,” he added.

Meanwhile, Raymond Mdaka’s Marumo Gallants will play Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the Caf Confederation Cup quarterfinals.

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