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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane admits the upcoming CAF Champions League final is the biggest test of his career, and dismissed comparisons to the MTN8 competition.
The two-legged final against five-time Champions League winners Zamalek will provide Mosimane and his players with the biggest test of their careers.
And the former Bafana Bafana boss believes the rigours of competing on the African stage are far more strenuous that the domestic competition.
"This is a chalk and cheese cup, by comparison. The other one (MTN8) you play for three weeks. This is nine months, and with kilometres," he told Sowetan Live.
"Playing in foreign countries, with different referees, training pitches where the grass comes to your knees. Transits for six to eight hours.
"The stress levels are totally different. The formations are different. The officiating is totally different from here.
"Over there you're going out of your comfort zone.
"You can't compare those to the MTN8... I'm not trying to say the MTN is not important. But anyone can win it. How many coaches have won it? Even I did 10 years back. But how many have won the Champions League?"
When asked whether the two-legged clash with Zamalek was the biggest test of his career, Mosimane responded: "I don't think Sundowns have played any game as big as this. And also for the players."
The two-legged final against five-time Champions League winners Zamalek will provide Mosimane and his players with the biggest test of their careers.
And the former Bafana Bafana boss believes the rigours of competing on the African stage are far more strenuous that the domestic competition.
"This is a chalk and cheese cup, by comparison. The other one (MTN8) you play for three weeks. This is nine months, and with kilometres," he told Sowetan Live.
"Playing in foreign countries, with different referees, training pitches where the grass comes to your knees. Transits for six to eight hours.
"The stress levels are totally different. The formations are different. The officiating is totally different from here.
"Over there you're going out of your comfort zone.
"You can't compare those to the MTN8... I'm not trying to say the MTN is not important. But anyone can win it. How many coaches have won it? Even I did 10 years back. But how many have won the Champions League?"
When asked whether the two-legged clash with Zamalek was the biggest test of his career, Mosimane responded: "I don't think Sundowns have played any game as big as this. And also for the players."
