The Tshwane-based side clinched their second CAF Champions League crown, adding to their maiden triumph in 2016, after edging AS FAR Rabat 2-1 on aggregate in a tightly contested final. They secured a crucial 1-0 victory in the first leg in Tshwane before holding firm in a 1-1 draw in Rabat last Sunday to seal the title.
However, the season proved less fruitful on the local front, as Sundowns failed to lift any domestic cup trophy. Their long-standing league supremacy was also brought to an end when Orlando Pirates ended their eight-year dominance by claiming the domestic league title for the first time in 14 years.
Despite that setback, Kekana described Pirates' league triumph as a positive development for South African football overall, arguing that stronger domestic competition will ultimately raise standards across the board.
"Winning the Champions League feels like getting a monkey off our backs. We've been carrying so much weight, wanting this thing for the longest time. I haven't really quite grasped what it actually means, but I think we will get to understand what it means in years to come," Kekana said, as quoted by Sowetan.
"It was a challenging season. We lost out on all the domestic cups, but we were able to redeem ourselves at the end by taking the big fish [referring to the Champions League], so despite all those challenges and disappointments, we are more than happy to have won the CAF Champions League.
"I think it [Pirates winning the domestic league] is good for South African football and for the national team. Obviously, Pirates have been chasing us for the longest time, and they finally caught us this season, but they couldn't catch us for too long.
"I think it's good for South African football to have two big teams fighting against one another. It only bodes well for the national team, and one can only wish those who are going to the World Cup all the best. We as a nation need to rally behind them."
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has hailed the club's CAF Champions League triumph as the defining achievement of the campaign, after disappointment on the domestic scene.
Themba Zwane has been handed a one-year contract extension by CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso was pleased with the way his side responded after falling behind to claim a 3-1 victory over Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on Friday evening.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes Bafana Bafana’s international friendly against Nicaragua will serve as an important stepping stone ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
