Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane has welcomed the upcoming reunion
with his former coach, Rulani Mokwena, following a CAF Champions League
draw that has set the stage for a highly anticipated tactical battle.
Sundowns were placed in Group C alongside MC Alger, Al Hilal, and FC
Saint-Éloi Lupopo. The draw ensures Mokwena, who left the Brazilians in 2024
and now manages Algerian side MC Alger, will make an emotional return to
Loftus Versfeld.
Zwane, who thrived under Mokwena’s guidance, expressed calm confidence and
deep respect for his former mentor. He stated the team’s focus remains
squarely on securing results rather than settling old scores.
“Let me start with Lupopo. We watched them against Pirates and yeah, we’re
going to analyse them again,” Zwane said, acknowledging their first
opponent. “We know what to do, we know what to expect from them.”
Turning to the narrative-rich fixture against Mokwena’s MC Alger, Zwane
dismissed the idea of drama, emphasizing mutual knowledge and respect. “With
coach Rulani, obviously, he’s a good coach. And we know him, and he knows
our players. It’s going to be an exciting game to watch… But for us, we’re
just going there to win the game, not to prove a point but to put the team
in the right position to qualify.”
The Sundowns skipper was effusive in his praise for Mokwena’s legacy at the
club. “I think there won’t be too much drama,” he continued. “We have so
much respect for him. He has done a lot for the club… He’s a good human
being, he’s a good coach. Us as players, we’ve learned a lot from him when
he was here. So I think we’re going to welcome him with a good hand.”
The stage is now set for a compelling group stage, where professional
ambition will meet deep-seated respect, making the clash between Sundowns
and MC Alger one of the tournament’s most intriguing storylines.
