UWC taking it one game at a time in the CAF Women’s Champions League

The Capetonians, who are making their debut in the tournament, face DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.

Mbuli won the 2022 WAFCON with Banyana Banyana in Morocco as an assistant coach, but now she returns to the same country leading the varsity team.

She says she has fond memories of the country where they won gold but will not put themselves under pressure.

"I have good memories about Morocco and I hope I go back home with a good memory again to say I want to come back again 2025 to create another good memory but I know that it won't be easy, it's a different stage,” Mbuli said.

“As a debutant team in this tournament, we know that it won't be easy. We'll just take it one game at a time, not putting any pressure to myself, not putting any pressure to the players that have been here. Just taking it one game at a time and hopefully we'll be here until the 23rd."

Mbuli was quick to dismiss the notion that her side is depleted due to the absence of two key players Bongeka Gamede and Noxolo Cesane who have joined clubs in Denmark and Saudi Arabia respectively.

READ: Bongeka Gamede over the moon about Denmark move

The UWC mentor says life has to go on.

"I think a team is made up of 26 players and it's true, we lost two, three players in Bongeka and Nox, Bongeka was also a co-captain with Amu [Amogelang Motau] but I think it was well planned and why I'm saying that is that we went to the qualifiers they helped us to qualify and then they left after that,” she added.

“So, we had four, five to six weeks to prepare without them and we played four, five games without them but I won't lie, we will miss them but we have players that are capable enough to step up and play for the team.

“To our supporters that are worried about that, we are gonna show them that we have other players who are capable enough to take their role in the team."

UWC have been drawn in Group A, alongside fellow debutants Aigles de la Medina, and two teams that have played the tournament previously.