Mokwena hails Group C win as quarterfinal door swings open

Mokwena was referring to the 2-1 win over Sudanese giants Al Hilal, in Algiers yesterday, a result that saw them move to second place on the log with seven points from five matches.

They led 2-0 before the visitors scored late in the game, and Mokwena says Al Hilal’s four points from Mamelodi Sundowns make them a dangerous team...

"In the Champions League, you cannot control the opposition. We played a team that just beat Sundowns and drew in Pretoria. They have players who can create something at any given moment, they have precision and aggression, and we know that in some moments we were going to have to suffer and I'm very proud that we suffered together as a team."

READ: Cardoso warns of fierce battle as group C opens up

With Sundowns away to St Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the group standings will show a clearer indication tomorrow.

The Algerians head to Pretoria to face Sundowns next week, but Mokwena didn’t want to say much about that game as he prepares to meet his former team.

Unfortunately, for the Sundowns game, MC Alger will be missing their key enforcer in the midfield, Mohamed Benkhemassa, who has collected three yellow cards and is suspended for the next game.

Mokwena says they will miss Benkhemassa, who has been their key player in the number six role.

In explaining why it’s important to give young players a chance, Mokwena has used himself as an example of how he was mentored and given an opportunity to join the Sundowns senior team, and then head coach Pitso Mosimane in 2014.

The 37year-old says every coach with potential deserves an opportunity...

"As a coach, we have two responsibilities. The one is to give opportunities to kids, because the only thing potential needs is an opportunity. It could be as a coach, as an administrator, as a journalist, somebody needed to give you a chance and I'm sitting here today because coach Pitso gave me a chance and everybody in life deserves a chance.

"Our second responsibility is to assist those players to fulfil their potential."