Kekana wants Sundowns to retain CAF CL crown

Hlompho Kekana celebrates his goal with Percy Taui of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Absa Premiership match between Baroka FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo on the 22 December 2016©Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix

by Bertin Basson

Friday Sep 15, 2017. 17:00

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana wants his team to emulate the success of Al Ahly, TP Mazembe and Enyimba, by defending the CAF Champions League crown they won last year.

The Brazilians became only the second team from South Africa to win the continent's most coveted club title and Kekana is hopeful that the Chloorkop-based club can now add a second CAF CL trophy to their ever growing trophy cabinet.

Kekana, 32, will this weekend lead his troops in a first-leg quarterfinal tie against Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca as they set their sights on reaching the 2017 showpiece.

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"As players we are excited to take part in this tournament. I remember when I was at school, this is the tournament a dreamed of playing in - look at me now - I have played in this tournament and won it," said Kekana.

"We want to make sure that we defend the trophy, it will be great for us as players and for South Africans it will be something to brag about," he concluded.

Teammate Sibusiso Vilakazi highlighted the importance of keeping a clean sheet on home soil:

"The most important thing is that if we create chances to put them away, but we also we have to make sure we keep a clean sheet because it will be difficult away from home," Vilakazi added.

"They are a very, very good team. It is important we make use of our home ground advantage."