Let’s not waste Downs’ thrilling Africa triumph
IN the aftermath of Mamelodi Sundowns’ magnificent success on the continent, South African football has a window of opportunity to plot a new course for the often under-achieving sport. With its infrastructure, financial resources and immense football talent, this country should be doing far better than it has, both nationally and at club level. For too long, it has been accepting far less than its real potential.
Sundowns’ march to glory in the Caf Champions League – defeating Egyptian giants Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate – is proof of what is possible with good planning, proper selection, good, old-fashioned courage and commitment in performance, and in just allowing the coach to do his job without interference from officials and club bosses.
But it’s so easy to be caught up in the euphoria of success and fail to utilise its long-term benefits. Sundowns have done the country proud and reminded everybody of the latent class and value of our football. But – and this is my big concern – while we should enjoy the achievement and revel in the success of the all-conquering Pretoria club, it’s just as important that administrators, club owners, officials, coaches, players and everybody else closely involved with the sport use Sundowns’ triumph as a blueprint to uplift the game even further.
Because, as a football nation, we’ve been here before – in 1995, Orlando Pirates were crowned African champions when beating ASEC Abidjan of the Ivory Coast in the final. In 1996, Bafana Bafana won the Africa Cup of Nations. And, then, afterwards, SA football stood on its pedestal, egotistically banging its chest, falsely believing it had arrived. We all know what happened next. The sport took a nose-dive – and, ever since, has battled in continental club competitions and its national sides have regularly failed to qualify for Fifa and Caf-sanctioned tournaments.
Now, after being shut for so long, that window of opportunity has opened again. In 2013, Roger de Sa steered Pirates to the final of the Champions League and, in 2015, Eric Tinkler took the Buccaneers to the final of the Caf Confederations Cup. The South African Under-23s and Banyana Banyana qualified to participate at the Rio Olympics – and, now, coach Pitso Mosimane and his brave Sundowns squad have reached the pinnacle of club success on the continent.
The challenge is to recognise the significance of this moment. With football on the rise again, it’s time to plot and plan, it’s time for football to think long-term, and Sundowns’ African coup offers the sport’s role-players a chance to get it right this time. History will, as it did after 1995-96, judge our football poorly if it fails to act post-2016.
But let’s return to that Sundowns victory. After a sensational 3-0 win in the first leg in Atteridgeville, the second leg was always going to be about mental strength, attitude and courage. And, boy, the PSL, and now African, champions had it in spades. Despite the hostility, intimidation, theatrics and the Egyptian crowd shining lasers in the faces of the Sundowns players, they stuck to the game plan. The tactical discipline was fantastic, the defensive organisation superb and, overall, it was just such a meritorious display. For once, and especially with all the political negativity and economic melancholy affecting the country, there was something to celebrate, something for South Africans to be proud of.
In 1995, Pirates’ continental accomplishment was headlined by the midfield industry and craft of John “Dungi” Moeti, the defensive solidity and inspiration of Gavin “Stability Unit” Lane and Mark Fish, the charisma of Eddie Motale, the unselfish running of Brandon Silent, the individual class of Helman Mkhalele, the reliability of goalkeeper Williams Okpara and the goal-scoring exploits of Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana.
The Sundowns class of 2016 has now been elevated to such hero status – the gifted Khama Billiat, the sprightly guile of Keagan Dolly, the energy and enthusiasm of Percy Tau and Anthony Laffor, and the combative midfield presence of Hlompho Kekana. Mitchells Plain defender Wayne Arendse played a vital part in the Pretoria side’s Champions League run, but missed the final due to suspension. His contribution, though, was critical to the team’s success. Then, there’s “Mr Cool” himself, the immovable Thabo Nthethe in central defence, who needed all his coolness, calm and composure in the cauldron of Alexandria to keep Zamalek at bay, and the two outstanding flank defenders, Asavela Mbekile and Tebogo Langerman. It was a wonderful team effort from Sundowns... each player, in some way or other, played a part in the sumptuous success.
But, for me, Sundowns’ Champions League feat will always be remembered for the hugely impressive, lung-busting performances of central midfielder Tiyani Mabunda. He covered every blade of grass wherever Sundowns played, he never shirked a challenge, he tracked and tackled, and was an influential presence in attack and defence. Mabunda is another example of the importance of patience in sport. He hasn’t always been a regular at the club, but he’s waited his turn – and, when it came, he grabbed it, gleefully. Now, he’s the first name on the team sheet.
And, of course, praise for Sundowns wouldn’t be complete without mention of Mosimane. The coach’s record speaks for itself. Winning the Champions League has always been his objective – and he deserves all the credit for the manner in which he set about to obtain his goal: Planning, attention to detail, motivation, selection, tactical insight and so much more. Take a bow, Pitso…
For Sundowns, it’s not over yet. They will now compete in the prestigious Club World Cup in Japan in December, and it’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to play against feted Spanish giants, Real Madrid. The event features the champion clubs from the six continental confederations and the club champions from the host country. This year, Sundowns will be up against Atletico Nacional, Real, America and Auckland City. And so, as football continues to celebrate for the rest of the week, and the months thereafter, let’s do so by all means, but also remember that window of opportunity. It won’t stay open for too long. SA football has to seize the moment – we don’t want to look back in another 20 years and regret that it failed to act on the incredible possibilities Sundowns have prised open.
There is such a lot that is good about SA football, but, somehow or other, we always contrive to accentuate the negative. Too often, wrong options are chosen that shoot the game in the foot. Too regularly, the sport suffers because administrators believe they are bigger than the game. Sundowns have shown what can be achieved when the objective, the dream, is the only thing that matters… SA football now needs to do exactly the same in order to get the national game back on track.