Mamelodi Sundowns winger Thapelo Morena has spoken with clear belief about the club’s chance of winning the CAF Champions League again. Speaking before their important home match, the experienced player said the team is ready to defend the title they won last season.

“We believe in it, we can win it back-to-back, we are willing to do it,” Morena said. “We have done it at home in the PSL, we have experience of, after winning, what’s happening next.”

Sundowns are the defending champions of Africa’s biggest club competition. They now face Angolan side Wiliete SC in the second leg of the preliminary round. The first meeting in Angola ended goalless, so the return fixture at Loftus Versfeld is vital. A win would take the South Africans into the group stages once more.

Morena explained that the squad sees defending the title as a responsibility. He pointed to the club’s long run of success in the South African Premier Division, where they have often won the league more than once in a row. That experience, he said, has prepared them for the pressure that comes with being champions.

“As a team, it is something we take as a responsibility,” he added. “We can and we’re willing to do it because we have done it at home in the PSL. And now we have the experience after winning. We know that teams will also come all out against us, no matter who is there.”

The 33-year-old also spoke about the advantage of playing at home. He noted that Sundowns know the difference it makes when they step onto their own pitch. The players plan to give everything in the match against Wiliete.

Sundowns have reached the group stages of the CAF Champions League for many seasons in a row. Staying in the competition is important, but the bigger aim is clear. They want to go further and become back-to-back African champions.

Morena’s words show the confidence inside the camp. The team understands that other sides will raise their game against the holders. Still, the players believe their experience of winning and then defending titles at home gives them a strong chance. The focus now is simple: win the return leg and keep the defence of the crown on track.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2113609958000353563