CAFCL: Kekana describes Sundowns’ road to final as full of blood and tears

Photo courtesy of Mamelodi Sundowns Facebook.

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana has described their journey to the 2025 CAF Champions League final as full of blood, sweat, and tears.

Ahead of the continental league final against Pyramids FC on Saturday, the Bafana Bafana player recounted their struggles in the competition. He said the Tshwane-based side had a slow start to the campaign, in the process changing coaches. Miguel Cardoso replaced Manqoba Mngqithi.

Kekana said they struggled to get past the group stages. “The CAF journey has been a difficult one. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It didn’t start quite well with a draw at home, but we fought our way out of the group stages to be where we are today,” he told Sundowns media.

Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams shared Kekana’s sentiments, saying the road to the final was tough right from the time a draw was conducted.

Masandawana, as Sundowns are fondly called, host Pyramids FC on Saturday’s the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The PSL giants hope to add a second continental title, having won the 2016 Champions League trophy under the tutelage of coach Pitso Mosimane.

The Pretoria-based giants had an upper hand when they last met the Egyptians, beating them 1-0 in Cairo on December 19, 2023. Teboho Mokoena scored the lone goal. Four days later, the Group A reverse fixture of the Champions League group stage match ended goalless in South Africa.