Downs’ Grateful For Facilities Offered In Cairo Ahead Of Ahly Showdown

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has offered special praise to Al Ahly after opening their iconic doors of the Mokhtar El Tetsh Stadium and facilities for preparation.

Sundowns face the record ten-time African champions in Al Salam City this evening, knowing a win would put them one foot in the knockout stages of the competition as they would be nine points ahead of the Egyptian giants after three games played.

While Ahly would have a game in hand – and four remaining fixtures to play in Group B – Mokwena said they would extend their gratitude by returning the favour in South Africa.

“It’s always good to be in Egpyt, it’s a country that is fanatical about football, it’s a beautiful country, lot of thanks to Al Ahly for their hospitality and receiving us with warm hands [by] offering us their facilities,” Mokwena said.

“[They have] been good sports and we hope to extend the same hospitality and warmth when they come to South Africa.”

The Egyptian media were quite inquisitive over their off-season signing of Ronwen Williams given the reputation Denis Onyango has achieved on the continent, while Kennedy Mweene produced a performance of the ages when he kept a clean sheet in Cairo last season.

“Our goalkeepers, they compete, the fight, the good thing is we have four exceptional goalkeepers with incredible experience,” Mokwena said when asked about their lack of game time in favour of the Bafana Bafana captain.

“But apart from that being said, we have four incredible human beings who happened to be very competitive with each other.

“The game only allows us to play one keeper, you go to all the big clubs, you can even go for an example… up until his window at PSG, they had Donnaruma and Navas, and only one could play. At Chelsea, they had at some point Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois and only one could play.

“I can only play one and the decision is made with coach Wendell – and we are just fortunate we have four very goalkeepers, who in any moment like we saw last season, could play in any game and give their best for the football club.”

Sundowns face off against the Club of the Century this evening at 21h00.