Sundowns Players Must Feel Pain To Get To Next Level – Mokwena

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena says the pain his players felt after their semi-final exit will spurn them into even greater heights for the future.

It was a somber mood at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon when the full-time whistle was blown by Sudanese referee Mahmood Ismail.

A state of shock, and disbelief, as the tournament favoruites and a team dubbed on several occasions as ‘the best team in Africa’ exited the semi-finals on goal difference after a 2-2 draw with champions Wydad Atheltic Club – who face Al Ahly in the final next month.

Mothobi Mvala, who netted the late own goal that proved decisive was notably in a state, while the tears were flowing on their emerging talent Cassius Maiulula and captain Themba Zwane, one of the members of their triumphant 2016 Champions League squad.

And within the scenes, Mokwena understood that he will need to play a leadership role, to pick up all the pieces in the coming days and rally the troops for the 2023/24 season.

“They know I love them more [after the semi-final exit], in good and bad we stay together but yeah, that’s why I’m here and why the club has entrusted me with this responsibility,” he said.

“It’s not much in the good moments, it’s actually in the bad moments, I have to step up, first take responsibility and then try to allow the players to feel it, we have to feel it because the pain will push us to the next level, we have to feel it.

“But this group knows I love and maybe so I love them more than when we won the Championship a few days ago.”

Sundowns, for all their dominance and finishing the Champions League campaign unbeaten, finish their campaign with the DStv Premiership as their only silverware.