Downs boss Motsepe 'relieved' the chains are off

Mamelodi Sundowns Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe has suggested that their next level of greatness will now be unlocked after they won the CAF Champions League for a second time.

The Brazilians finally have the second star on the badge after their first triumph in 2016 following a 2-1 win on aggregate in the final against AS FAR Rabat.

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They went into the second leg carrying a narrow 1-0 lead, and a 1-1 draw in Rabat on Sunday evening was enough to see them crowned champions.

The side had a somewhat turbulent season prior to this final, even from the early stages of the season, as head coach Miguel Cardoso was reported to be close to being relieved of his duties, while the Betway Premiership title had also slipped away, along with all other domestic trophies.

Motsepe, speaking to The Pitchside Podcast, has suggested that with the pressure of winning the second star off their back, they could now have the space to unlock their next level of greatness.

"It's been a long journey, 10 years! What can you say, except… When you take it in, the emotions, I think the first thing you have to say is thank you, thanks to you, thanks to our coach, the players, our president who is always with us in this journey, even though there have been ups and downs, and the supporters who were with us," said the young Motsepe.

"I just hope all our voices are just gonna be positive, we're gonna be happy, we’re gonna finally be relieved and unchained; because this journey, this chase for the star, I feel like it had become almost something that was in the way of us really achieving another level of greatness."

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"So, we got over this hurdle, now I feel like the supporters, everybody is just gonna be stronger and grow together. There's a quote in my office that says 'obsession beats talent', so the fact that you're talking about obsession is very interesting because the mindset of being focused on achieving something and not stopping until you achieve something, it's a trait that a lot of successful athletes and business people in life in general have," he added.

Sundowns are expected to arrive to a hero’s welcome at the OR Tambo International Airport on Monday evening.