Mamelodi Sundowns aim for another CAF Champions League final, but defender Keanu Cupido warns it won’t be easy against Esperance Sportive de Tunis on Saturday. Furthermore, Masandawana come to the second leg of the semi-final with a slender 1-0 lead courtesy of Brayan Leon’s strike away from home last Sunday.
Speaking to reporters this week, Cupido says everyone at Chloorkop dreams of reaching the final for the second time after their loss to Pyramids of Egypt last season. However, a setback for coach Miguel Cardoso’s side is the absence of defender Grant Kekana, who will not play in the upcoming match against the Red and Yellow army.
The Bafana Bafana defender was sent off in Rades for a dangerous tackle and may be replaced by either Mothobi Mvala or Khulumani Ndamane. The selected replacement will partner with the experienced Cupido. Meanwhile, Betway Premiership champions Sundowns will welcome skilled left-back Aubrey Modiba, returning after a one-match suspension.
The former Cape Town City central defender believes every player in the Sundowns camp wants to taste continental glory. The Brazilians are chasing their second continental title, having lifted the coveted trophy in 2016 under ex-coach Pitso Mosimane.
“I think it’s very big for any player in the country to win the Champions League. Everyone dreams of winning the Champions League and playing for a big team like Sundowns. It’s a really huge opportunity for each one of us,” Cupido said to the media at Chloorkop.
“This is a chance for us to show our qualities. Last season, we came close; this year, we have another shot and bring lessons from last time into the second leg.”
“I don’t think there’s much of a difference [between last season], we started badly last season as well – but as a team we’re growing together, we’re starting to believe it’s possible and I don’t think there’s much difference.”
What Esperance Players Think of Sundowns
According to one Esperance player, Mohamed Dräger, he believes the South African giants are “a monster of Africa” – but the right-back made clear that respect and fear are two very different things.
The German-born Tunisia international offered his honest assessment of what makes their hosts such a formidable continental force and pointed to something that even caught him off guard.
Dräger added that the cohesion built by Sundowns through the years of playing together for Bafana translates directly onto the club pitch, and he acknowledges that familiarity is a real weapon.
“I was surprised too that 90% of the Sundowns team has played together in the national team. So it’s a big advantage for them, but also it’s nice to see that the national team is choosing local players,” he said per iDiski Times.
“At the end of the day, they are doing well at Sundowns and even better in the national team. As I said, we are facing a monster of Africa, not the monster, but for sure a respectable, big team.”
Also known as Taraji, the North African outfit will need to score at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to have any chance of reaching the final and meeting either ASFAR or RS Berkane.
Meanwhile, his mentor, Patrice Beaumelle, added that they don’t take the Premier Soccer League side’s home record into account in the continental tournament.
“Statistics are made to be changed; it’s an indicator that they are efficient and good in this competition,” he said to the media.
“But a month ago, Esperance went to Cairo, where they have never won in their history, and we won, with three goals. We had Sundowns’ troubles last week, but we were not efficient. We need to show the same belief we did in Cairo; anything is possible in this game. Tickets are sold out, and Cardoso wants to make Masandawana fans proud by reaching the final. The match starts at 15:00 (CAT).
