Photo Credit - Mamelodi Sundowns Media.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango has explained why their rescheduled Nedbank Cup quarter-final fixture against Sekhukhune United will be a good rehearsal for their Caf Champions League fixture against Esperance.
The Brazilians will return to action after the end of the FIFA international with a domestic Cup fixture against Sekhukhune at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday with a semis ticket at stake, and then return to host the Tunisian giants in the first leg quarter-final clash of Champions League at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday.
According to the former Ugandan custodian, the fixture against Sekhukhune will give the team momentum to get ready for Esperance test. The Sekhukhune fixture will come after Sundowns lost their last assignment - a 2-1 defeat against rivals Orlando Pirates - in the Betway Premiership.
“We would have loved to play a couple of weeks back but the game was postponed and we were in camp, but we are looking forward to the match once again," Onyango told the club media department as quoted by SowetanLive.
“Even though some guys are with the national team and they will come in and join us for a few days, we have no choice but to play because we have a lot of matches ahead. The guys are looking forward to the game and everyone who is given an opportunity [to play] has to give his best because we are all here to play. The game on Friday will give us momentum going into the Champions League match against Esperance on Tuesday.”
On the international break, Onyango said: “The international break was not the best because we were having a loss [against Pirates] behind us, but going forward, I had an African tour with the club that involved giving back to young Ugandans playing football, my former club and my former school.
"For the club to see my roots, where I come from, and who gave me the first opportunity to play professional football... [was emotional], and it went well because the chairman [Thlopie Motsepe] was involved with a few marketing people. The international break went well in terms of marketing the club and giving back to the people of Uganda.”
Should Sundowns eliminate Sekhukhune, they will face Kaizer Chiefs in the last four.
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