Talent galore at the Discovery Tournament-Vilakazi
Mamelodi Sundowns, attacking Midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi is adamant and steadfastthat Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge is a platform that offers an abundance talent. Furthermore he urged the nation to keep an eye on this sparkling tournament.
In an exclusive interview with Msports Marketing Vilakazi exudes confidence in the way he plays on the field and talks off it.
So it comes as no surprise that the Mamelodi Sundowns star has high hopes that the Brazilians may win this year’s CAF Champions League.
If they go all the way, they may repeat the feat of three years ago when they won Africa’s premium club competition and earned their respect on the continent.
“Yeah, it’s game by game and the main objective is to go all the way,” he said.
Vilakazi, who is one of this year’s Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge ambassadors, shared his sentiments while attending the Kasi tournament that kicked off at the weekend in his hometown, Soweto, at Nike Football Training Centre.
During Sundowns’ 3-0 win over Angolan outfit Petro de Luanda in the first match of the group stage of the CAF Champions League at Loftus Stadium, Vilakazi watched from the bench. Naturally and considering that he’s a Sandawana, he’s expecting big things from the Brazilians from their CAF campaign this term.
“We’ve come from a win (against Petro), so that was a good first game. We scored three goals and the boys played very well. You can’t ask for more,” he said.
Mosimane and his men have a tough encounter awaiting them against Wydad Casablanca in Morocco in their second Group C match on Saturday.
Vilakazi, however, is confident that Sundowns can fix their away form in Africa – they have won one and lost four in their last five matches during their travels on the continent and take the fight to the North Africans, who have given Sundowns some problems over the past few years.
“It’s a challenge that we look upon, but there are games that we’ve won away over the last two or three seasons.
“But there are also games where we haven’t done well,” Vilakazi continued.
In the previous Champions League, Sundowns were knocked out by Wydad in the last four of the tournament.
This was after Sundowns drew 0-0 with Wydad in Pretoria and lost 2-1 away, but Vilakazi insisted that Sundowns are up for the fight, even in Wydad’s own backyard.
“We are looking forward to it and we have to be smart,” he added.
On the Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge, Vilakazi has urged the nation to keep an eye on the talent at display in Soweto.
The Meadowlands-born, Soweto, forward played for Meadowlands Chelsea in this tournament that started in 2002.
This year, there are 64 teams battling it out and this is where the next Vilakazi will come from.
The Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge runs from December 1-29 with both men and women’s teams competing.
INFO and PICTURE SUPPLIED BY Msports Marketing.
