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Cape Town - After
qualifying for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, Mamelodi
Sundowns are aiming to retain the continental crown, with captain
Hlompho Kekana leading the way.
Since winning their maiden title last season, Masandawana have developed a reputation on the continent as one of the most feared African clubs.
The Brazilians' incredible 3-1 Group C victory over giants AS Vita in Kinshasa was testament to their bourgeoning supremacy within the elite competition.
Now, having qualified for the knock-out stages to face Botola Champions Wydad Casablanca, Pitso Mosimane and his troops are just six games away from lifting the trophy again.
And their skipper Kekana had a simple explanation to their recent success on the continent - having lifted the CAF Super Cup with a win over TP Mazembe this year.
"We now know the logistics of playing in the Champions League – the long traveling hours, the long hours at airports," he told the club's website.
"We are just happy as players. We are learning life lessons which you do not find in text books. The experiences are making us better players, better people and better individuals.
"We are getting stronger mentally, and we will never give up. We are testing ourselves, our character and how we handle ourselves," the Bafana Bafana midfielder added.
"We know the difference between our domestic league and the Champions League, and have adapted."
