Lubhalwe nguMichael Madyira
Ngemuva kokudlula kwi-Premier Soccer League kanye nakuma-quarter-final e-Caf Champions League, iMamelodi Sundowns ayikadluli ebunzimeni obukhulu.
ISundowns iqinisekiswe njengompetha be-PSL ngaphambi kokukhahlela ngisho ibhola ngoMgqibelo.
Baphinde baqeda beqhwakele ku-Group B ku-Champions League, sebekwazile ukudlula emidlalweni eyisishiyagalombili njengoba sekusele imidlalo emibili.
Lesi bekuyisikhathi esinzima kwiSundowns, kodwa manje isibhekene nesigaba esinzima kakhulu sesizini yayo.
Eminyakeni emithathu edlule, iSundowns ikhishwe ku-Champions League kuma-quarter-final okuyisigaba ephinde yazithola ikuso.
Umqeqeshi uRhulani Mokwena uyakwazi okubalindile futhi unxuse ukuthi abalandeli babekezele njengoba abadlali bakhe behlale beqhathaniswa nomdlalo wango-2016 ngesikhathi bengompetha base-Afrika.
“Uma ubheka ukwakheka kweqembu, uzothola isikwati esinemidlalo engaphansi kuka-200 ye-Champions League,” kusho uMokwena kwabezindaba.
“Abadlali abaningi badlala kowe-Champions League okokuqala ngqa futhi babhekene nengcindezi yokuthi bawine. Lena i-Champions League kaRonwen Williams yokuqala.
“SinoNeo Maema obambe iqhaza ngesizini edlule, kodwa manje usezoqala imidlalo emikhulu enemisebenzi emikhulu kanti kukhona uMarcelo Allende noCassius Mailula nabo abazobe bedlala okokuqala.
“Sidlulela esigabeni esinzima kakhulu, kodwa kumele sibe nesineke kuleli qembu ngoba yiqembu elikhombisa izithembiso eziningi.”
Kusukela kubadlali bango-2016, iSundowns isaphethe uThemba Zwane nonozinti uDenis Onyango noKennedy Mweene.
UThapelo wajoyina iSundows ngalowo nyaka esuka kuBloemfontein Celtic, kodwa akazange abhaliswe ku-Champions League, kwathi uBongani Zungu walibangisa e-Portugal maphakathi nemidlalo yase-Afrika.
“Leli yiqembu okumele linikezwe amathuba afanele ukuze likwazi ukuzakhela igama liphinde libhale owalo umlando,” kusho uMokwena.
“Njengeqembu elinqobe i-Champions League ngaphambi kokuyiletha, angisakhumbuli ukuthi sizame kangaki.
“Kumele sinikeze leli qembu ithuba elilinganayo nokwesekwa ukuze liqophe umlando futhi ngikholwa ukuthi leli qembu ekugcineni lizoyiwina i-Champions League.”
ISundowns izothola ngezimbangi zayo ze-quarter final ye-Champions League ngoLwesithathu.
Isithombe esingenhla: Abadlali beMamelodi Sundowns
Umthombo wesithombe: IMamelodi Sundowns