A thrilling win for Mamelodi Sundowns over Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek in the 2016 African Champions League final at Atteridgeville remains one of the finer international moments for South African football.
Not only the decisive nature of the 3-0 scoreline and the thrill of a near-perfect performance, but also the potential it held for the start of a dynasty that could dominate for an extended period. The deep pockets of billionaire Patrice Motsepe, happy to indulge his coach Pitso Mosimane with almost every player he desired, threatened to allow Sundowns to run rampant through African football and go on to compete beyond the continent.
But nine seasons on and the team from Pretoria have been unable to repeat that heady achievement.
Sundowns might have kept up a consistent record of getting through to the group phase of every subsequent Champions League, but the closest they have come to returning to the winner’s podium has been the semifinal stage.
The quest for continental glory has become almost all-consuming at the club; new solo coach Manqoba Mngqithi made it clear just weeks ago that the Champions League is their priority. The club’s overwhelming resources, and star-studded squad, mean they can afford such clear focus.
Domestic dominance is now almost complete, save for the occasional hiccup.
Last season, Sundowns won the league by a record margin and were 30 minutes away from becoming the first club to finish a South African top-flight season defeat undefeated. Cape Town City spoilt the party on the last day of the campaign.
Then there was a minor tremor when coach Rhulani Mokwena was shown the door. He had a patchy relationship with the club’s powerful technical director, Flemming Berg, a Dane whom Motsepe has hired to oversee affairs while he is forced to take his hands off the reins because of his role as Confederation of African Football (Caf) president.
Mngqithi, previously downgraded to assistant from the co-coach role he held with Mokwena, is back in charge, though initially it looked as if he too might be fired after back-to-back defeats by Stellenbosch.
Berg flew to Britain to talk to Benni McCarthy about taking the job, but that has been put on the back burner as Mngqithi has returned the club to winning ways and has now steered it into the Carling Knockout final this weekend.
After that match in Bloemfontein, Sundowns begin the group phase of the Champions League campaign in Pretoria on Tuesday. The club faces rookie opponents, first in Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and should also be strong enough to see off the challenges of Moroccan clubs Raja Casablanca and Royal Armed Forces, which share the group.
The group competition runs from late November to mid-January, with the top two finishers in each of the four groups advancing to the quarterfinals. That is where things become more difficult, and when Sundowns will begin to sweat.
Over the past nine campaigns Sundowns have produced some impressive results but then somehow stumbled at crucial junctures. But Sundowns have a hardy squad, now well versed in overcoming the difficulties and foibles of travel around the continent.
Despite these difficulties, South Africa finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast at the start of the year. The 10 Sundowns players who featured for the national team were a major contributor to this success.
Competing in African club competitions used to be a financial burden on South African clubs and there was little appetite to invest resources in seeking success. But since Motsepe became Caf president, prize money in the Champions League has been increased significantly and for winning the tournament there is a $4m payday. Once converted to rand, and after costs are deducted, there is still a tidy sum left over for a local club to invest in buying a player or two, or to invest in youth development.
This pales in comparison, however, with the new riches being offered to clubs by Fifa. World football’s governing body is trying to corner the club market and has introduced a new-look 32-team Club World Cup, to be played from June 15 to July 15 in the US. To get the buy-in of clubs such as Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid, it is guaranteeing about $40m to each club for participating.
Sundowns will be going to next year’s tournament as one of four African representatives, as a result of their Champions League results, and the payday ensures even further resources that other South African clubs can only dream of.
To qualify for Fifa’s Club World Cup, you need to win the Champions League. To get into the Champions League you need to finish in the top two of your domestic competition. Now every South African club owner can see a pathway to the pot at the end of the rainbow. But Sundowns will be the first to tell them the journey is no easy matter.
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