By Phumzile Ngcatshe
PRETORIA: Mamelodi Sundowns head to this Sunday’s first leg of the CAF Champions League final looking for glory, and midfield legend Roger Feutmba is hopeful of a gold medal.
The retired midfielder stated in an exclusive interview with FenceAfrica24 that despite the disappointing midweek defeat to TS Galaxy in their final Betway Premiership match at Mbombela Stadium, coach Miguel Cardoso’s troops still have something to fight for.
Masandawana are scheduled to face AS FAR Rabat from Morocco, a team many call minnows in continental football, but the legend known to the KaboYellow family as The General, the eight-time Betway Premiership champions, must respect every opponent.
Heading to the clash at the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosting venue on Tuesday night, Sundowns were looking to reach 71 points from 29 games, but they failed, succumbing to a 3-2 loss. The good news is that striker Brayan Leon continued with his rich vein of form upfront – the Colombian netted a brace.
Looking at the upcoming crucial encounter set to be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday at 16:00 (CAT), the big Cameroon legend believes the coach will give the right instructions to the players as they look to emulate the class of 2016 that was led by retired skipper, Hlompho Kekana, under ex-coach Pitso Mosimane.
Sundowns defeated Zamalek of Egypt 3-0 in the opening leg before heading to Cairo and lost 1-0, but they held on to clinch the title via a 3-1 aggregate margin, much to the delight of the Yellow Nation.
With the league race not in their hands, considering that the second-placed Orlando Pirates enjoy an advantage over the goal difference, a win and a draw in the Buccaneers’ remaining matches will mean they are the 2025/26 league champions.
This is why Feutmba has called on the players and the fans to believe that the CAF interclub final is something that can still bring back the smiles at Chloorkop – but the players must dream big and fight for each other.
Feutmba: Sundowns Must Focus On The Final
Besides a taxing league schedule for Sundowns, this is the team that didn’t have enough rest before the current campaign.
The South African giants participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, the Champions League and also had some of the players taking part in the African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco earlier this year.
To many, this could be the reason why they failed to operate like a well-oiled machine, but the legend has credited the technical team, management and the players for the hard work. The Cameroon-born former league winner and Rothmans Cup winner with Sundowns previews the eagerly anticipated final.
“I think going to the final, Sundowns coming from a defeat, it was a difficult game versus TS Galaxy. They don’t need to panic on Sunday at home. I believe the final must bring them together; the mission is to focus on the big one. This is a major trophy to win this season. This team has won the league for many seasons, losing the game against Galaxy was a lesson that in football, you win some and lose some. You cannot win all the time. The main focus here is the CAF Champions League. I think they must regain their confidence. We have the best team in Africa. This Sundowns team can go and win it. The main objective now is to make sure we stick together. The management, the coach has to give the players all the necessary support and messages – avoid the unnecessary pressure.”
Feutmba: Sundowns Cannot Take AS FAR For Granted
It’s been a decade now since the Chloorkop-based giants lifted the trophy under the guidance of coach Mosimane. Skipper Kekana led the side, which boasted quality players such as Teko Modise, Tebogo Langerman and Anthony Laffor, among others.
The Moroccans are making their second appearance in the final of this competition. They were crowned champions in 1985, but it was played under a different format.
In the current dressing room, veteran Ugandan keeper Denis Onyango and captain Themba Zwane are the only two squad members to have tasted glory back in 2016. In this campaign, Zwane will look to take his name to the history books by hoisting the coveted trophy after the second leg next weekend.
“Look, they have to just go and represent the team and remember, they are also representing the country as a whole. This is the game of their lives, the final of this cup competition is something massive, and I am convinced they are aware. They have to go and ensure they remain focused and bring it home after 10 years. Remember, reaching a final is not easy. They cannot take AS FAR for granted. It will be a huge mistake if they disrespect the opponent. For such matches, the coach and his technical team must motivate the players. There is no doubt that Sundowns have matured players who are experienced in these games. They must just put the PSL disappointment behind them.”
Feutmba On Sundowns Suspensions and Injuries
Because of Cardoso’s sentiments regarding tight schedules in their domestic campaign, the reigning African Football League winners will miss seasoned defender Grant Kekana due to suspension. At the same time, Keanu Cupido and Thapelo Morena are doubtful as they are recovering from injuries, but the former Indomitable Lions star is not worried.
“Yeah, Kekana is a very important player and leader in the team. These are quality players who have experience at Bafana Bafana and in this tournament. However, there is quality at the club, and the other players must show hunger to compete. I think the technical team must send the right message to the players who will start the match. Under these circumstances, they must avoid putting themselves under unnecessary negative pressure. I believe it’s still in their hands. This is their time to shine and become the champions of Africa.”
For the South African giants, this will be the second successive Champions League final and a third in a row for the Portuguese mentor. Meanwhile, CAF boss Patrice Motsepe recently announced that the African champions will pocket $6 million – a 50% increase on previous prize money.
