THE fact that Mamelodi Sundowns are back in contention for Africa club honours after they were knocked out twice already in two competitions this year came as both good and bad news.
That Sundowns have been reinstated in the 2016 CAF Champions League is good for the club president's desire for his team to be crowned African champions. Patrice Motsepe has thrown more than enough for that dream to come true, only for his team to come short.
This year Sundowns did not even reach the goup stage of the continent's premier club competition, after they were outfoxed by DR Congo's Vita Club in round three. The Kinshasa proceeded to the quaterfinal's groups stage as a result, but were later thrown out because they had fielded an ineligible player. That's how Sundowns were called back to replace Vita.
Their return is also good news for SA football ambition, which is now desperation, to be counted among the best in Africa. We once won the Africa club title, back in 1995 when Orlando Pirates victory. This was even before Champions League days, and it has been more than a 20 year wait to be called champions again.
Underachievement on the continent is bitter reality for South Africa, because we like rating ourselves among the best even when our results show a less colourful picture. We are bad like that, which is why I feel the reinstatement of Sundowns via the boardroom is bad for football. Of course it's not Sundowns' fault that V Club were clumsy like that. But then the newly crowned SA champions went to lose to unfashionable (let me Google... ) Medeama of Ghana in the Confederation Cup.
You see, after losing to Vita at home, Sundowns and seven other losers in third round of the Champions League were relegated to the Confed, which provided a chance to salvage something for Africa honours in 2016. It's bad but lucky for Sundowns that after falling to Medeama in Ghana, they get another chance again in the Champions League.
The news of their reinstatement arrived after the team personnel had concluded their off-season holiday plans. Coach Pitso Mosimane was meant to travel to the US, most probably to go enjoy the Copa America. This points to another bad situation about SA football; the league season running from August to May, copying Europe. The reality of this misnomer is that at the time the rest of Africa is busy, our league is in recess.
That also means our teams in CAF competitions at that stage will not take a break, and players will have to continue competing after a bruising domestic season. This weekend Sundowns are travelling to ES Setif in Algeria for their first match of the last-eight round robin. Their next match is Wednesday June 29, hosting Enyimba from Nigeria.
Go show you deserve your luck guys! Needless to say, good luck. I back you 100 per cent.
Wishes of the best of luck this weekend also go to Bafana Bafana as they take on Lesotho in the quarterfinals of the Cosafa Cup in Namibia. Bring the glory home guys... it's been long coming.
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