by Benjamin Nyirenda
Former Mamelodi Sundowns player and captain Hlompho Kekana has said that his side would use the Carling Black Label Cup to help the team prepare for their journey in the CAF Champions League. Sundowns are part of the four DSTV Premiership clubs that will take part in this year’s instalment of the Carling Cup on the 12th November at the FNB Stadium.
Kekana said this on Tuesday at the SAB Headquarters in Bryanston, Johannesburg, during a media briefing organised ahead of the Carling Black Label Cup one day tournament next month.
He said that he believed that the Sundowns technical team would use the two matches on the day to assess and prepare for their showing in Africa. Sundowns will play one for the semi-finals against AmaZulu, and should they win, they will take on the winner between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, who will play the other semi-final match.
“This is one trophy that we do not have in our cabinet in Chloorkop and we really need to win it, but I think it will mainly help us prepare for the CAF Champions League as the technical team will make sure that they give every player the chance to play. We have players like Sipho Mbule, Gift Motupa, the young Cassius Mailula and even Bongani Zungu, who need more game time at this point and these games or this one day tournament will give them that chance,” he said.
Kekana also took a moment to compliment the Downs goalkeeping department, saying that there was nothing to worry about as for whoever plays “is a world class goalkeeper”. He also urged the Brazilian faithful to arrive early at the stadium so that they see both the two matches.
The former skipper also thanked SAB, the cup sponsors the a great initiative of four matches being played in one ground in one day.