Ahead of the opening matches of the 2017 Total CAF Champions League group matches, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says the competition will be tougher than last year.
The defending champions, who eliminated Uganda’s KCCA to reach the stage were drawn in a group that has two former winners, AS Vita of DR Congo and Tunisia’s Esperance as well as Ethiopian giants Saint George.
“It’s going to be very, very difficult,” Mosimane is quoted by Kickoff.
And I think it is going to be tougher than last year because the stakes are higher, more money, more exposure, lots of TVs [coverage], so everybody wants to be part of this but we’ve got experience.
The former Bafana Bafana tactician also believes the group his side is in is arguably the toughest in the competition.
You can’t ask for less and it is the way it is. You also knew that when we are in pot one you are going to get one team from any pot, it is the group of death if you check.
But the soft spoken but fluent coach believes his side’s experience will see them through to the quarter finals.
But when you are in the group of death they cancel each other out because the two teams are stronger and [there are a] lot of draws. So you have to focus on your home games and you’ve got to be smart and we’ve got experience for that.
Onyango to face former bosses
While appearing on Soccer Africa last week, Mosimane hinted that Ugandan goalie Denis Onyango, who played for Saint George before moving to the PSL will be crucial in spying on his former team.
I signed Denis (Onyango) from Saint George so we have one player who can give us a brief on they play.
Last year, Sundowns were drawn against AS Vita but the Congolese side, despite beating the Brazilians, they were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player and the South Africans took full advantage, and went on to clinch the title.