The glory game
KINGS of Africa. The title has an impressive ring to it, and Mamelodi Sundowns are the proud, deserving wearers of the crown that goes with the accolade. On Sunday night, the Brazilians, as the Pretoria side are known, entered a cauldron in Alexandria with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg of the African Champions League final. In a hostile atmosphere, up against a Zamalek side which had won the title five times previously, they produced a stout performance and limited the home side to a single goal, for a 3-1 aggregate win.
Romantics might have preferred an attack-minded performance from the South Africans, befitting the style of the five-time World Cup-winning nation whose kit colours they wear. But in the second leg of a final, with a handy lead, a rock-solid effort at the back was all that was needed.
The only other time a South African team had scaled these heights was in 1995 when Orlando Pirates downed Ivorians ASEC Abidjan 3-2 on aggregate. The following year Bafana Bafana went on to annex the Africa Cup of Nations, when South Africa assumed the hosting of the event from Kenya.
SADLY, even though a South African team succeeding in the continent’s tough top club competition should mean the national team is in a healthy state, Bafana Bafana have not qualified for the Cup of Nations in Gabon next year.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has realised a long-held dream in leading a team to this pinnacle, but he is the first to say the road to the top was long and arduous. Sundowns even lost a domestic cup final to Wits earlier this month, as part of their busy schedule. Instructively, Sundowns learnt from this “wake-up call”, with Mosimane saying the stumble had taught them humility.
If only the national team set-up could learn from Mosimane’s attention to detail and willingness to adapt to circumstances.
Sundowns’ club owner Patrice Motsepe dedicated Sunday’s triumph to all of South Africa.
It is certainly a feel-good moment for the nation, and will no doubt serve as a huge dollop of inspiration for the millions of citizens who dream of starring in “the beautiful game”.