Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 7y

Hlompho Kekana: Sundowns still the team to beat

Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana maintains his side are the "team to beat" in the African Champions League this season despite the patchy start to the defence of their title.

Sundowns scraped past KCCA in the first round at the start of their campaign, and have just a single win from their three group games so far, including a first ever home defeat in the competition at the hands of Tunisian side Esperance.

The Pretoria-based club are now in Tunis for the return fixture against the 2011 champions.

"We are no longer underdogs, but rather the team to beat," Kekana was quoted on his club's website. "It is normal for defending champions to be put under pressure. What remains for us is to remain humble in our approach, and to make sure we win our games.

"We prepared well, and it is clear all the players want to win. It is very important for us to win so that we are in a good space. We will go to the stadium to play our own game, and hopefully win."

Kekana says the Sundowns players are now better prepared to handle the rigours of Champions League football after their run to the title last season.

"We now know the logistics of playing in the championship - the long traveling hours, the long hours at airports. We are just happy as players.

"We are learning life lessons which you do not find in text books. The experiences are making us better players, better people and better individuals.

"We are getting stronger mentally, and we will never give up. We are testing ourselves, our character and how we handle ourselves.

"We know the difference between our domestic league and the CL, and have adapted."

Kekana, who is likely to return to the side after injury forced him out of the previous game against Esperance, is confident his side can claim victory.

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