Sundowns won’t suffer from stage fright against Barcelona – Kekana
Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana promised his side won't suffer from stage fright in their much-anticipated international friendly against Spanish champions Barcelona at the FNB Stadium this evening.
Hlompho Kekana during Mamelodi Sundowns media open day at the Chloorkop (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
The Spaniards, who are expected to field their stars like Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta, were expected to arrive in South Africa only this morning.
Kekana believes that Sundowns’ 2016 Caf Champions League triumph and their endeavor in the Fifa Club World Cup later that year will come in handy as they gear up to face the five-time European champions in the Mandela Centenary Cup.
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“When you play a big club you are motivated and we will try to do our best for our fans,” he said.
“We managed to survive in Egypt (in the 2016 Champions League final) and if we survived in Egypt I don’t think anything will ever break us.”
Kekana was an interested onlooker when Barca visited Sundowns over a decade ago, with the match resulting in a 2-1 win for the Spanish giants. The Bafana Bafana international says he never thought he would one day lead out a side against a global powerhouse like the Catalans.
“It is a big one, we are looking forward to it and I know it is going to be one of the best football moments of our careers,” said Kekana as the Absa Premiership champions paraded with the league trophy in Pretoria on Monday.
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“We are happy as players to be associated with our supporters and people who have been singing from day one when we started the league this season and we always try to show them they are special to us and that is the least that we can do.
“It is always nice for me to really give thanks to the people who really believed in me to be the captain of this team and I always try to serve them and give them the best … this the only thing I can do to thank them.”
Kick-off is at 6.15pm.
