Exclusive: Rulani Reunion Adds Heat as Mnguni Predicts Sundowns Will Rise in Algeria

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Bennett Mnguni has backed his former club to rise to the occasion when they face what could be their toughest CAF Champions League group-stage assignment away to MC Alger on Friday.

This encounter carries added weight, not only because of the quality of the Algerian outfit, but also due to the added storyline of former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena facing the club for the first time since their split before the start of last season.

The chase for the elusive title

Sundowns will continue their pursuit of a second Champions League crown, a title that has remained elusive since their 2016 triumph. Last season they came closest, falling 3-2 on aggregate to Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the final.

After starting their group-stage campaign with a convincing 3-1 win over DR Congo’s Saint Eloi Lupopo, Miguel Cardoso’s side now prepare for what is expected to be their sternest test on the road against the Algerian Ligue 1 contenders.

Speaking to Sportsboom.co.za, Mnguni said that while the team still showed areas needing improvement in the Lupopo match, the overall display was encouraging ahead of the MC Alger trip.

“The match against Lupopo started at a slow pace, but you must remember it’s the first time we played against that team, and that gave us some doubts because if you looked at us in attack, it was not the Sundowns that we know," Mnguni told SportsBoom.co.za. 

“We gave them space and time, and after we scored they also managed to score, but after pressing them back into their half, that is when we started to play, and overall it went well, more especially in the second half, and we attacked in numbers and defended in numbers.”

Mnguni added that Sundowns’ reputation demands consistently high standards, regardless of the challenge.

“Sundowns is a big team; whether we start in a lower gear or higher, the fact remains that we are a winning team, and we need to win at all costs. We are not a team that is used to losing, and that is the mandate.”

“That is the mandate for the coach and the mandate for the management. We have players from all over the world, and that gives us an edge going forward because we can compete against any side.”

Former allies meet as rivals

Mokwena guided Sundowns to the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2023/24 season, losing to Esperance de Tunis on a 2-0 aggregate. 

He also secured a league title and an African Football League crown in 2023, playing a significant role in shaping the squad now under Cardoso.

Mnguni noted that Mokwena’s understanding of the team will matter but insisted this clash is not about proving a point for either side.

“That will be a very tough game knowing that Rulani knows Sundowns as he knows himself. He knows the individuals, how to attack, and the system that is being played because he is the one that implemented that system.”

“However, there have been some new players that Rulani doesn’t know. There’s at least four or five players that he doesn’t know, but the rest of the players, like Ronwen Williams and some defenders, he knows them.”

“I do not think there will be a point Rulani will want to prove, and neither will Sundowns want to prove any point to him, because being a professional, you can never quite predict the future.”

Beware the post-defeat fury

MC Alger, meanwhile, will be desperate to recover after their opening 2-1 defeat to Al Hilal, a situation Mnguni warned makes them even more dangerous heading into Friday’s match.

“MC Alger coming from the opening group-stage loss only just means that they are a wounded animal, and we know how dangerous that can be, so we will need to be very watchful.”

“This will be the toughest team they will face in this group. All the teams that come from North Africa are very tough because they have been doing this for a very long time."

“South African teams haven’t competed at this level for long, and they want to prove that they are still the best, and we also want to prove we are the best.”

“I believe that they can make the final. I believe in these players. I looked at how they trained the last time I was there, and you can see that each and every player wants to see themselves play,” he concluded.