Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams believes Mamelodi Sundowns‘ struggles in the Caf Champions League group stage might be a blessing in disguise.
Masandawana did not find it easy getting into the quarter-final, as opposed to the previous seasons. They had to wait until the last match against AS FAR Rabat – in which they shared the spoils, to guarantee themselves a place in the next phase.
The 33-year-old now says the tough run in Group B might be a sign that the team will go all the way to getting their second star. He went on to draw comparison with European heavyweights Real Madrid who usually struggle in the initial stages but impress in the latter phases.
‘Al Ahly and Real Madrid never had a perfect group stage'
“It was very strange, we at Mamelodi Sundowns are accustomed to winning all the games and cruising nicely but this campaign things have been different for us.” he told Radio2000.
“Our previous coach, coach [Manqoba Mngqithi] said maybe it was a good thing cause the last few years we were cruising; we were the favourites to win it, we would always have a clean perfect group stage campaign but then fall short in the quarter-final, sometimes maybe in the semi-final. So maybe this time things will work in our favour.
“If you look at the history of Al Ahly SC, you look at the history of Real Madrid they never had a perfect group-stage campaign but they always went all the way. If you look at the history of Al Ahly SC, you look at the history of Real Madrid, they never had a perfect group-stage campaign but they always went all the way.
“Then Mamelodi Sundowns won it if I’m not mistaken, I think it was in 2016, they were actually out and they got reinstated and they went all the way to win it so hopefully things can go that way for us.”
