Hlompho Kekana positive Mamelodi Sundowns can claim CAF Champions League glory

Hlompho Kekana says that Mamelodi Sundowns have what it takes to win the club’s second CAF Champions League title when they come up against Pyramids FC in the second leg of the final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday (7pm kick-off).

The Brazilians will head to Egypt’s capital slightly on the back foot due to the away-goals rule, after playing out to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.

Sundowns clinched the tournament in 2016, and they are looking to be the first South African side to win the competition twice, after Orlando Pirates became the first club to emerge victorious in 1995.

The Buccaneers were also tasked with the difficult situation of having to go to ASEC Mimosas, having played out to a 2-2 draw against the Ivorians at the FNB Stadium, and a Jerry Sikhosana winner at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium was enough to hand them a 3-2 victory.

Sundowns, on the other hand, went through a different route in their first leg in 2016, as they stamped their authority early against Egyptian giants Zamalek, securing a 3-0 lead, and only conceded a 1-0 defeat in the second leg.

Ex-captain Kekana believes his former side have all the tools to bring back a positive result.

“I have a strong belief that the boys have what it takes to go to Cairo and win this football match,” Kekana said ahead of the second leg of the final.

“It was a very tricky first leg. They took the lead, but conceded at the very end, which, for me, when I looked at the match, I was not worried, because I felt they had control.

“But this is the Champions League; you cannot take it for granted, not even for one second, because we saw what happened right at the end.

“But I am sure they are aware of what is to come, because they have played difficult matches before.

“They need to go for a kill and win this one, because it will be very important to put another star on top of that jersey.”

Kekana was part of the team that won the tournament in 2016, and he added that tapping into history a bit more might motivate them to have greater belief.

“It’s important that we tap into those memories because they will help us, because we always know that football is a game of reference,” he said.

“You always have to look back at what worked for you and what you did in the past to get to certain stages.

“It still excites me to see the pictures from the 2016 team lifting the trophy, and it will give the players the motivation to say that it’s doable, because that team managed to do it.”

The 37-year-old believes that getting off to a fast start will also be crucial to settling some nerves.

“If you score early, then you break the ice, and you play with less stress,” Kekana said.

“Cairo is always a difficult space to go in. An early goal could turn the whole complexion of the match, and it would be nice if we scored early.”