Sundowns Khama Billiat -PHOTO : GIFT NDOLWANE
Sports Reporter
JOHANNESBURG -AFRICAN CHAMPIONS , Mamelodi Sundowns have expressed desire for more glory ahead of their clash against Confederations Cup winners TP Mazembe at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday evening.
This is the view of nippy midfielder and Zimbabwe international Khama Billiat ahead of this, what should be an epic battle between two great sides.
“This is going to be a big game. Nothing can be bigger, at least at continental level,” said Billiat in the team ‘s website .
“Games like this are the only way you can measure how big or good you are.”
Billiat, played a primary role in guiding the South African giants to the continental title, says that they did not start preparing for this game recently.
“Once we had won the CAF Champions League, we knew we had to do planning for the Super Cup. We know what is coming. They know us and we know them.”
Asked whether his side feels under pressure, Billiat laughed it off. ” We are always under pressure. We need to deliver for ourselves, for the fans, for the President, and for our families.”
“Pressure is part of our life. Games like this build character, and ideally every game we play should be at this level and intensity. That way we all grow and the game gets bigger and better as we get used to such an environment.”
“TP Mazembe are a huge team, and we will respect them. But we have to do what we do best. They have achieved a lot, but that does not mean they will be better than us. We know they are not an easy team to beat, but it will all come down to who is hungrier, and I know that we are hungry enough,” he adds.
Billiat believes that the roller coaster experience from their last three games – a hard fought victory over Bloemfontein Celtic, a thrashing of Orlando Pirates, and a draw against Chippa United- has prepared them well for Saturday’s game.
“We were tested, and all aspects of the game were tested, and we will be stronger for it.”
Billiat and other regulars did not feature against Chippa. ” We have a strong team and we trust the judgement of the coach. He has changed the team often, and he has made it clear that everyone in Sundowns deserves to play.”
The two teams know each other and have played each other four times, with each winning twice on home soil, but Billiat believes they are in for a tough encounter of great football.
–Guardian
