Mamelodi Sundowns legend Roger Feutmba has urged the squad to reset mentally and refocus on domestic silverware following their shock exit from the CAF Champions League. The Pretoria giants, who sit top of the Premier Soccer League with 26 points from 10 games, were eliminated by Angolan side Wiliete SC in the preliminary round last month. Their record of eight wins and two draws from those ten league games has given them a one-point lead over Orlando Pirates.
Feutmba acknowledged the result was a bitter blow for a club seen as a continental heavyweight. "No matter how excellent we believe we are, we can still make mistakes," Feutmba said. He stressed that the team's absence from the latter stages impacts the reputation of South African football, but believes this season's squad has the quality and fortitude to bounce back immediately. The team's strong league position, built on scoring 27 goals and conceding only nine, provides a solid foundation.
Feutmba stated.
The immediate focus shifts to the Carling Knockout Cup, where Sundowns face Golden Arrows in their next competitive match. Feutmba pointed to recent domestic victories, including a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows where top scorer I. Rayners netted the winner, and a 4-1 thrashing of Durban City, as key steps in rebuilding the squad's internal belief. With the league title and domestic cup still attainable, the season is far from over for the dominant force in South African football.
Midfielder Nuno Santos echoed the sentiment, confirming the Champions League is no longer in their control this season. "We want them all, obviously the one that we cannot win anymore is the Champions League but we want the other ones," Santos stated. He urged his teammates to block out external criticism and concentrate solely on the ambitions they can still achieve, including a potential FIFA Continental Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Coach Rulani Mokwena also addressed the exit, describing it as a painful learning experience. Mokwena said. The team's most recent result was a 1-3 defeat to USM Alger on Sunday 8 November, a match in which I. Rayners scored a penalty.
Sundowns' form has been strong domestically, with their recent results reading three wins, one draw and one defeat from their last five outings across all competitions. This sequence includes a 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants and a 1-1 draw with Wiliete. They will look to extend their one-point lead at the top of the standings when they travel to face ninth-placed Kruger United on Saturday 28 November. The club's management has reiterated its full backing of the technical team and playing squad, emphasizing that the long-term project remains on track despite the continental setback.
The report in full is at Goal.com
