Downs on Super mission

OFTEN the comparison between Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe appears to only involve their two rich owners – billionaire Patrice Motsepe and Moise Katumbi, a Congolese politician and businessman who has turned Mazembe into an African football powerhouse.

But the two clubs have other similarities. Sundowns host Mazembe at Loftus Versfeld tonight in the Super Cup and earned the right to play at home following their Champions League triumph in October last year.

The visitors were crowned winners of the less prestigious, but still coveted, Confederations Cup not long after and get the once-off opportunity to prove who deserves the tag of African champions more.

Mazembe are veterans at this, as Downs coach Pitso Mosimane pointed out earlier in the week, and their counterparts have some way to go to catch up.

However, to have finally won their first continental title and now constantly be rubbing shoulders with Africa’s best even in friendly matches is evidence of just how hungry the Brazilians are.

Both Motsepe and Katumbi are never shy to pour further resources into their teams to make them stronger than the previous season. Sundowns may have appeared desperate to block winger Keagan Dolly’s move to French Lique 1 side Montpellier during the January transfer window, but the truth is that they had long brought in replacements with Yannick Zakri and Thapelo Morena.

It has always been implied that Motsepe can buy any player on a coach’s wish list, and this statement only really manifested once Mosimane was appointed coach in December 2012, with the ex-Bafana mentor recruiting as many as 16 players in his first full season and inning the championship.

Mazembe are no different.