By Michael Madyira
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena face what could be his biggest football moment when they host Wydad Casablanca in the African Football League final, second leg.
The Brazilians host the Moroccans at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday seeking to overturn a 2-1 defeat from the first leg.
Since winning the 2017 CAF Super League, the Brazilians are yet to win any continental title and Sunday’s match presents them with a chance to bag a trophy outside the Premier Soccer League.
For coach Mokwena, he is under stern scrutiny to see if he can guide Sundowns to a trophy in Africa.
Already after missing out on the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout, Mokwena would want to justify his credentials as a coach of a big team.
Despite their impressive performances, Masandawana are yet to lift any trophy this season and that is where most of their criticism is anchored.
“Sometimes there is this feeling that I get that when we play well and we don’t win, people are very quick to forget the result and focus on the performance,” said Mokwena.
“When we win, but we don’t play well, people are very quick to forget the result and focus on the performance and that’s the pressure at Mamelodi Sundowns.
“It only comes because we’ve set the expectation that we can play well and win. We’ve shown that we are capable of doing that so it’s our fault sometimes that we are under pressure, not only to win but to play well and win.”
For the past two weeks, Sundowns have never played domestic football as they concentrate on the African Football League.
They began this continental campaign against Angolan giants Petro Atletico in the quarter-finals before seeing off Al Ahly in the semi-finals.
Pictured above: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena.
Image source: Mamelodi Sundowns
