Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has emphasised that Pitso Mosimane's influence remains relevant at the club a year and a half since he left for Al Ahly.
Mosimane was the head coach at Sundowns for eight years during which he was assisted by Mngqithi through the success of winning 11 trophies including the 2016 CAF Champions League.
'Jingles' comes up against his former club this weekend at FNB in a Group A tie having lost the reverse leg 1-0 in Cairo a fortnight ago.
"He was here. He played a very big part seeing the team being what it is," points out Mngqithi.
"He always says the team still plays the way he wants it to play and still believes we will be like this for the next five years because he laid the foundation here.
"So, if we win against him, it is because of his work. He still believes we are doing whatever we are doing because of the foundation that he laid, and we cannot say no to that because it is true as he had been here for too many years.
"The truth of the matter is that when we win, he should also celebrate our wins because we are doing what he wants us to do," says Mngqithi.
Mosimane had the edge with Al Ahly last year after coming out as the quarter-finals aggregate winner on his way to lifting the title after overcoming Kaizer Chiefs in the final.
The previous year Al Ahly also got past Sundowns at the same stage but this year the two clubs meet in the group stages with The Brazilians aware that the North Africans will be like wounded lions.
"They will be coming here to look for a result and when you come to us with that mentality, we like it because it then makes for a very good game of football, and it can go either way.
"We are very optimistic that we have what it takes to also upset them. When they have scored 10 goals it is not like we must be scared. The competition will be intense, and we like it this way.
"We have all the respect and humility to understand that we are playing one of the biggest teams in Africa, but I also believe they have a little bit of respect for the team they are playing in South Africa because they know it is a team that has the capacity to beat anyone.
"The most important thing here is that we are playing a wounded team which requires that we must be a little bit more focused on what we are doing and not be as anxious as them," explains Mngqithi.
Sundowns will go into the match minus Rulani Mokwena after he was red-carded in Cairo.