Grant Kekana says Mamelodi Sundowns will rely on their CAF Champions League experience when they visit Esperance De Tunis for the quarterfinal second leg match on Tuesday.
Masandawana enter this clash with a slight edge, having claimed a 1-0 victory over the Tunisian side on Tuesday, courtesy of a goal from Peter Shalulile.
Despite their strong performance in the first leg, the 32-year-old acknowledges that the return fixture will be far more challenging, as they will be competing in a hostile environment.
He revealed that former Esperance coach Miguel Cardoso, now Sundowns coach, has provided insights on what to expect, and he remains confident that their CAF experience will play a key role in helping them overcome the home side and secure a place in the semi-finals.
“We know what to expect, our coach has also briefed us, but we also been in the CAF (Champions League) for quite a number of years. We know about the hostility, but it’s something that we won’t focus on. We just want to go that side make sure that we’re able to do the job, so we can make our supporters proud,” he said while addressing the journalists before departing to Tunisia.
“We’ve gained a lot of experience and we’re open to all the challenges that we come across, so it’ll be no different. They’re going to do all that they can to make sure that they destabilize us but we’re strong enough, we’re committed. There’s a lot of brotherhood, so yeah, we just can’t wait for Tuesday.
Sundowns are heading to this match with a score to settle, having been eliminated by the Tunisian side, who recorded back-to-back victories in the semifinals of last year’s Champions League.