Grant Kekana, one of the senior players at Mamelodi Sundowns, understands the pressures of playing at the top level and against a tight schedule as they welcome Stade Malien in the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld n Friday night.
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Mamelodi Sundowns are accustomed to hoisting the country’s flag on the continent, and that is why they have continued to call for a “healthy working relationship” between all stakeholders for a successful mission this season.
Sundowns are in the CAF Champions League quarter-final, where they will face Stade Malien for a place in the semi-final over two legs, starting at Loftus Versfeld in Hatfield on Friday night (8pm).
The Brazilians head into the first leg at the back of a demanding domestic schedule while juggling continental commitments, having faced Orbit College FC in Rustenburg on Tuesday night – just three days before the clash against Malien.
The non-postponement of that match took a toll on their preparations, including rest, unlike most of their quarter-final counterparts who were given time off from domestic fixtures to focus on their continental assignments.
That decision by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) forced coach Miguel Cardoso to reshuffle his squad, prioritising certain matches such as the one against Malien – a situation that can disrupt synergy, momentum and consistency within the team.
Grant Kekana, one of the senior players in the squad, understands the pressure that comes with balancing domestic and continental football. As such, he praised the workload management of the medical and technical team.
“I think since I arrived at Sundowns, it’s been much the same,” Kekana said. “For us who have been here for some time, we have pretty much gotten used to it, even though it is taxing on the body.
“But we are privileged to have people at the club who help us with recovery, and the way the coach manages players’ workloads, even during training sessions.”
In the same breath, Kekana said the club cannot do it alone, calling on relevant stakeholders, such as the PSL, to assist them in representing the country on the continental stage.
“I think the plea is just for the country to support us. That is all we are asking for. We are not only representing Mamelodi Sundowns, but the country,” Kekana added.
Sundowns’ challenges come at a time when they appear closer to winning their second continental title – following their 2016 triumph – after reaching the semi-final two seasons ago and the final last season.
Cardoso, who is also chasing success after finishing as a runner-up in the competition with Espérance Sportive de Tunis before joining Sundowns, is not hiding behind the team’s challenges as excuses. Instead, he backs the character and attitude of his players to prevail.
The Portuguese mentor praised his troops’ never-say-die attitude over the last few months, noting that any success he achieves is built on the players’ hard work.
“First of all, I was very lucky. I had the chance – I remember last season – to work with a fantastic group that took the challenges to heart with a lot of love and commitment,” Cardoso recalled.
“Coaches succeed through the hard work of the players. They give players more tools and help them strive for success. That is why I say we were lucky.”
Cardoso heads into the knockout stage without being carried away by past fortunes, fully aware that the team must find solutions for every challenge they encounter.
“Of course every match has a tactical approach,” Cardoso said. “When things are tight, you need to be clever so that you know how you want the team to perform. You have to understand the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.”
Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutcht this text.