Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena feels Cape Town City has what it takes to do business for the country against Petro de Luanda in the CAF Champions League.
The Girabola giants famously knocked out Sundowns in the Champions League quarter-finals last season after they had earned the favourites tag for their double over Al Ahly in the group stages.
Petro went on to get thrashed by eventual winners Wydad Atheltic Club in the last-four and this time around, they are pitted against tournament debutants, the Citizens, for a place in the group stage.
Added to the intense encounter, former City goalkeeper Hugo Marques will be in goal of the opposition after his controversial exit from the club at the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
“I would like to wish them well, there are a lot of good human beings in the team that I know very well, Eric Tinkler being one of them, someone I’m very cordial with rather and have a lot of respect for what he’s done,” Mokwena said.
“Not just as a coach but as a football and of course being as patriotic as I am, my best wishes and sincerest deepest regards go to them, to play against a very good side against some very good players.
“Then of course Lyle [Lakay], and Mpho Makola are players that I’ve coached and still have a very good rapport with. My best and well wishes to them in that encounter.
“They have the team to do it – they have a very good team, they’ve started the season relatively slow but seem to be picking up. Hopefully, they do the business for the country.”
City host Petro this afternoon at the DHL Stadium for their first leg at 17h30 – the loser of the tie will drop down the CAF Confederation Cup for this season.
