Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed the club's master plan to end North African monopoly in continental tournaments and be among some of the best clubs in the world.
The North African giants such as Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance de Tunis and to an extent Zamalek, have been dominating the CAF Champions League historically.
However, Sundowns have been challenging that dominance for the past six years or so and made their intentions clear of being counted among the best after winning the inaugural African Football League.
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Mokwena, speaking to journalists in a press conference ahead of their CAF Champions League clash against TP Mazembe, says winning a continental title for one season is not good enough to make a dent to the North African club's hegemony on the continent.
"For the last six years we've been in the quarter-finals, last season we were in the semi-finals for the first time in something like four or five occasions," Mokwena told reporters in a pre-match press conference.
"So we want to be that team that's always there you know. We have to try to be there all the time. It's not good enough to think you can win a continental trophy without a big stamp on the continent.
"And that stamp means you've got to be in the quarter-finals, semi-finals every year and this is what Al Ahly are doing, this is what Wydad are doing, they are there, every single season they are in the quarter-finals, they are in the semi-finals," he said.
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"And to take a place we feel we rightfully deserve, amongst not just the best teams on the continent but maybe even among some of the best teams in the world, we've got to make sure that we're in that space for the continental competitions; we're in the semi-finals, we're in the finals, this is the mentality we want to have so that eventually we can break the monopoly of the North African sides in terms of dominating continental competitions," he added.
Sundowns are currently in a position that qualifies them for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, as they are ranked third on the continent by the football governing body.
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