Onyango: CAF CL Is Not For Small Boys

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango has opened up on why the club have “struggled” to win the CAF Champions League, since winning it for the first time in 2016.

Sundowns have reached the semi-final of the Champions League for the last four seasons, and after it felt like they would finally become triumphant again in last season's final, they were pipped to the crown by Pyramids.

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Given the investment made to The Brazilians, in terms of player recruitment and the ability to keep their best players, it has been a mystery why they have not won a few CAF Champions League trophies, especially as they have had the upper hand over the North African giants, such as Al Ahly, when it comes to dominating play and playing attractive football.

Onyango, who made history with the Tshwane giants in 2016, has suggested that everybody wanted to beat them after they lifted the trophy and bemoaned how travelling takes its toll on the players.

“By the way, it is has been very difficult, because the moment you're a winner, everyone is hunting for you and that has been very difficult for us, because the moment we won it in 2016, we played KCCA, we were almost knocked out, it was going to be a disaster as defending champions, to be knocked out in the preliminary round," Onyango said on Pitchside With Tabu Peter YouTube Channel.

“So it's been a struggle for us to win it again, but I believe this year may be our year, because it's ten years since we won it. If we win it, it will be incredible for me, Thapelo and Themba, after so many years; of course, the team has made it possible for us to go to the final once again.

“We believe the team will fight to win it this year, and we will celebrate the ten years in style. Champions League is not for small boys, I'm telling you; you need to have mentally strong players, financial muscle, because you will not fly from South Africa to Tunisia on a commercial flight and think you will make it, it's very difficult, connecting to Europe, whereas people think it's easy, the travelling makes it difficult," the 40-year-old added.

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Sundowns will host FAR Rabat in the final first-leg on Sunday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.