Zamalek SC manager Patrice Carteron believes the threat of Mamelodi Sundowns is far greater than Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and the rest of Southern Africa.
Sundowns progressed to the quarter-finals of the African Champions League as Group C winners, ahead of Wydad Casablanca, Petro Luanda and USM Alger.
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In a historic season, all eight teams in the knockout stage have lifted the continent's most coveted club title and Carteron has been left impressed with Pitso Mosimane and his troops.
"I have a lot of respect for him [Mosimane] because the club has been progressing year after year and he's still there," Carteron tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"He's a fantastic competitor, a gentleman also - I have a lot of respect for him. Pitso did a fantastic job and is still doing a fantastic job with Mamelodi Sundowns.
"It's a fantastic club, he is doing great work year after year he is always there [CAF Champions League] with his team."
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Carteron, who lifted the Champions League with TP Mazembe in 2015, went on to suggest that Sundowns are a cut above the rest of the Absa Premiership and other Southern African clubs due to their consistency.
"It's never easy because you don't have so many clubs in South Africa and in Southern Africa able to compete with teams from North Africa," he explains, when asked why the Soweto giants haven't been able to replicate the exploits of Masandawana.
"I thought they [Sundowns] could win last year but finally, they fell [to Wydad Casablanca] but they are still very strong."