Head coach Rulani Mokwena declared he is determined to leave behind a formidable legacy at serial winners Mamelodi Sundowns since his ascension to the managerial hot-seat.
Masandawana will face their cross-town rivals who compete in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, in the University of Pretoria in a Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash on Friday at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium.
Mokwena’s troops booked themselves a spot in the last eight after defeating Maritzburg United by 2-0 thanks to a brace from new acquisition Thembinkosi Lorch.
The Brazilians have already secured one piece of silverware this season, with the African Football League crown and are eyeing a possible three more trophies, with the DStv Premiership on the brink of being secured, and are still in the hunt for the prestigious CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup.
Speaking at the Ke Yona press ahead of Downs’ match with AmaTuks, Mokwena revealed the legacy he aims to leave behind.
“We want to try and leave the jersey better than we found it,” said Mokwena.
“The level is very high, under the previous coach, for sure, the group was extremely even more relentless than what we are.
“We’re just trying to make sure that we leave this jersey better than we found it. The standard has been set.
“There’s a points tally that no one has broken, we tried last season, and we fell one point short,” Mokwena added.
The 37-year-old mentor further explained that his side doesn’t want to conquer the DStv Premiership only but also the continent as they will want to keep their supporters happy.
“We haven’t won the Champions League yet, we are a club that is trying to entrench ourselves,” Mokwena added.
“To be one of the best not just in South Africa but on the continent too.
“We want to be remembered as a group that gave it all even in the midst of some sacrifices we have to make.
“And some of the sufferings we have to undergo but at the end of the day we have to try to serve this club with dignity and pride.
“The supporters carry themselves for this club, they love this club, and you can feel their passion.
“We want to do the best that we can to appease them, to give them what they deserve and these fans deserve the happiness that they are undergoing at the moment.
“We are going to try to continue that, we have to try and do more each and every single day, and good is not good enough for this football club.
“It’s a club that wants more and we have to achieve more, we have to play better, and we have to win more.”
The moment it was decided! 😲😁#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/ipr3IveMVF
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 6, 2024
