Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have arrived in Gaborone, Botswana, ahead of the COSAFA Women’s Champions League Qualifier, with the squad in high spirits and determined to secure a return to the continental stage.
The two-time CAF Women’s Champions League winners will begin their campaign against Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs on 21 August, before facing Malawi’s Silver Strikers on 23 August and Mozambique’s Costa do Sol on 25 August in their final Group B fixture.
With three group matches coming within the space of five days, the Brazilians know that settling quickly into the tournament environment will be important. For defender Sikelelwa Mhlanga, however, the team’s arrival has already created a sense of excitement within the camp, particularly after a period without competitive football.
“The mood is good. Everyone is happy to be here and ready for the matches. We have not been playing in a while since the league was on hold, so we are excited to be together again. It is always good to come together as a team, especially for a competition like this, because we know what is at stake and how important these matches are for the Club.”
For Mhlanga, the early arrival in Botswana is also important because the team has a demanding schedule ahead, with little time between their three group matches. The opportunity to settle, recover from the journey and prepare physically and mentally will therefore be crucial.
“It is very important that we settle quickly because we have a busy schedule and we need to make sure that our bodies are ready for the matches. Getting enough rest after the journey will help us recover properly, while the training sessions will allow us to get comfortable with the conditions here. We want to use the time we have wisely so that when we play our first game, we are fresh, focused and ready to give everything for the team.”
The squad will also need to adapt quickly to the playing conditions in Botswana, particularly the artificial turf on which the tournament will be played. Defender Tiisetso Makhubela believes the team can use its preparation sessions to make that transition as smoothly as possible.
“We have to adapt quickly, especially because we will be playing on a turf field. We have the chance to train on the turf and get used to the playing conditions, so that is something we will take seriously. We must understand how the ball moves and how our bodies respond to the surface before we play our first match. Other than that, the weather feels the same as Johannesburg, so in that sense we are comfortable and can focus more on the football.”
Makhubela also believes Sundowns’ previous continental experience will help the team handle the demands of the tournament. While the Brazilians are two-time CAF Women’s Champions League winners, she does not believe that their history alone creates additional pressure. Instead, she says the memory of missing out on the previous continental tournament has provided a stronger source of motivation.
“I do not think the pressure is created by being CAF Champions. For me, the bigger motivation is the fact that we did not win the past COSAFA and, as a result, we did not go to the past Champions League. That is something we remember, and it makes us even more determined this time. We know what it feels like to miss out and none of us wants to experience that again. So we are coming here with the mindset that we have to work hard, take every game seriously and give ourselves the best possible chance of qualifying.”
With qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League at stake, Sundowns Ladies now have little time to waste. After arriving in Gaborone, the players are reunited, rested and ready to begin their campaign, with Nsingizini Hotspurs first on 21 August and one clear objective driving the squad: win the COSAFA qualifier and return to Africa’s biggest stage.
