Mamelodi Sundowns utility player Mothobi Mvala has opened up on reaching his first CAF Champions semi-final with the club.
Sundowns were knocked out of the CAF Champions League for three consecutive seasons prior to this campaign and broke that hoodoo after booking their spot in the semi-finals for the first time since 2019 with a convincing 6-2 aggregate win over Belouizdad.
The Brazilians made their intentions clear of reaching the semi-finals after thrashing the Algerian side 4-1 in the first-leg and finished them off with a 2-1 victory this past weekend in Tshwane.
Read: Pitso Comments On 'Awkward' Sundowns, Gallants CAF Progress
Mvala says following their 4-1 win in the first-leg, they knew that Belouizdad would want to score goals and they "did not give them what they were looking for".
"We started well but at some point they came back in the first-half, we knew that they are very dangerous with set-pieces and we allowed them to get a goal but after that we went to the change room and the coach told us what we're supposed to do," Mvala recounted the experience to Sundowns media.
"Second-half was much better, where we were keeping the ball, we really looked good and used the chances that we created. We expected them to come very hard because we knew that they want more goals.
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"But we dealt with them in a good way, we defended well, we did not give them what they were looking for. I'm just happy with the performance of the team, from Ronwen (Williams) to the strikers, the communication, it really helped us, after scoring we kept possession and they could not penetrate us," he said.
The former Highlands Park midfielder joined Sundowns in 2020 and says personally he's very happy to have reached the semi-finals for the first time and the team is looking forward to qualify for the final.
"It's a special one, it's a good feeling for me, it's the first time being in the semi-finals since I got here. I'm very happy and we're looking forward to being in the finals," he continued.
"We just need to give our best and also thank our supporters for pushing us. It really means a lot to us.
"It makes me feel good to be honoured by such big supporters and it makes me emotional, I've never received such support," he added.
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