Wiliete coach Bianchi says Sundowns win has earned his club respect

Wiliete SC coach Roberto Bianchi has described his side’s elimination of Mamelodi Sundowns from the CAF Champions League as a significant milestone for a club that was only founded in 2018, according to iDiski Times.

The Angolan team got past the South African giants to reach the group stages. The result is a big moment for a club that has been steadily building its reputation at home and across the continent.

Off-field problems before the tie

Bianchi said his players showed resilience because Wiliete had to deal with complications away from the pitch. He revealed that three players could not take part in the match after immigration problems at OR Tambo International Airport the day before.

The coach said the club had made great sacrifices despite those problems. He also pointed to the size of the opponent as the reason the result carries so much value.

“We just qualified for the group stages, we have not done anything yet,” Bianchi said, tempering expectations. He stressed that reaching the group phase is only the start of what the club hopes to achieve this season.

Confidence and recognition

Bianchi believes the achievement will give his squad extra belief as they continue their domestic campaign. Wiliete currently top the Girabola standings, Angola’s top league.

He also thinks the run has raised the club’s profile. In his words, “people didn’t know us but now they know who Williete is”, and he called that a huge positive.

The coach described the growth of the club as a step-by-step process, both in the CAF Champions League and in the Girabola.

What happens next

The group stage draw is scheduled for Wednesday. Wiliete will be there alongside Petro de Luanda, who also qualified as an Angolan representative. Sixteen teams have been confirmed for the group stages, according to the source.

For South African football fans, the result is a reminder of how competitive the continental competition has become. Supporters can follow the draw on Wednesday to see which opponents Wiliete and the other qualifiers will face.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.