Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rulani Mokwena, shares his thoughts on the Caf Champions League quarter-final draw.
Mamelodi Sundowns were drawn against Algerian side CR Belouizdad and the first leg will be played in Algiers.
The Algerian side are top of the Algerian League, seven points ahead of second-placed CS Constantine with three games in hand. “It’s a draw that we accept with a lot of humility and also a clear understanding that it’s going to be very, very difficult match,” said Mokwena.
“CR Belouizdad is a very good side even though they finished second on their group with ten points. They had a very, very good campaign both in the Caf Champions League and domestic league where they are number one even though they have played 17 games.
“The gap between number one and two is a story that is a little bit similar to ours.”
In the last two Caf Champions League campaigns, CR Belouizdad were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Caf Champions League by Esperance Tunis and Wydad Casablanca respectively.
“They have very good players; they also play something similar to a 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 with a strong powerful Nigerian striker up front, [Anayo] Iwuayala and [Sofiane] Bouchar their top goal scorer on five goals.
“So, they have an interesting side with tactical formations and structures. Going to Algeria is going to be very, very difficult particularly with traveling and trying to map our way with domestic fixtures.
“We have Nedbank Cup just before we travel to Setif, a lot of work for our management team.”
By Zola Doda