Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena has revealed what FIFA President Gianni Infantino told him after defeating Wydad Casablanca to win the inaugural African Football League trophy on Sunday.

Masandawana carried the day on with a 2-0 scoreline (3-2 on aggregate) through the goals from Peter Shalulile, who just returned from a long injury break, as well as the Postman, Aubrey Modiba.

“As I walked on the stage, Patrice Motsepe congratulated me, and as I walked to the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, what he said to me was, “Your team plays magnificent football.” Like I always say, the game of football belongs to the players,” said Mokwena, adding: “We have been asked whether we will change our style of play, it’s very difficult because this club has a certain identity and we have to try by all means to always play well. We are not always going to win every game because football by nature, is a low-scoring game.”

He added: “When we lost 2-1 in Casablanca, we had a training session the next day with a couple of players that didn’t play and I can tell you, we trained like a team that had just lost 5-0. The mentality of the likes of Rushine de Rueck, Dennis Onyango, and Neo Maema in that training session was just unbelievable. This is what makes this group so special, their sense of brotherhood, loyalty, and commitment to this badge. Don’t worry, there will be no sense of complacency, I will not allow it.”

With the AFL being done and dusted this season, Downs will now shift their focus to the CAF Champions League group stages that will commence in a week.