Downs’ date with destiny

Sundowns and Pirates are the only PSL teams to have reached the final of the Champions League twice

Glory is literally just on the horizon for seven-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Mamelodi Sundowns who will this Sunday play against Egyptian giants Zamalek in the second leg fixture of the CAF Champions League final.

As it stands, the Pretoria giants are three goals up on aggregate and will only have themselves to blame if they fail to hold on to this advantage in the final 90 minutes that will be played away in Alexandria, Egypt this coming Sunday at 20:30.

Sundowns stands to make South African football history as they will become only the second club to win the CAF Champions League title after Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates, who were crowned African football kings 21 years ago in 1995.

The Brazilians have once finished as the competition runners-up back in 2001, where they succumbed to a 4-1 aggregate defeat to the other Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, in the city of Cairo.

This is only their second bite at the CAF Champions League title cherry and this time they seem firmly in control of what could become their destiny this Sunday. Sundowns and Pirates are the only PSL teams that have reached the final of the CAF Champions League twice.

In the current campaign, Sundowns have already beaten Zamalek three times in as many matches and stand to notch up their fourth consecutive win against the five-time African champions – a feat that has never been achieved by any other South African team.

Although the writing may already be on the wall, Mosimane has since the 3-0 victory at the Lucas Moripe Stadium warned that the trophy is not yet safely in the Brazilians’ cabinet, reminding his players of what Zamalek wondrously did they when overcame Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca en route to the final.

The Egyptians beat Wydad 4-0 at home in the first leg of a two-legged semi-final before losing 5-2 away to the latter in the second leg, thus winning 6-5 on aggregate.

Zamalek are indeed a very strong side in their own backyard. Supplemented by the guarantee that they will receive a hostile reception and be blinded with lasers, Downs will not have it easy at all in Alexandria. The match will be a stark contrast to the support they enjoyed in the first leg back here in South Africa
Zamalek are expected to fire from all cylinders and the chances of them scoring against the Brazilians are quite high. An away goal or two for the Brazilians, however, will make things difficult for the Egyptians and further move the target of winning their sixth Champions League title away from them.

In simple terms, Sundowns will be obliged to not sit back and defend but also go for goals in Alexandria if they are to lift their maiden Champions League title.

As seven-time PSL champions, winning the 2016 CAF Champions League title will not only distinguish Sundowns as arguably the best South African football side in the PSL era, but also enrich football in a country that has continuously struggled to make a mark in football beyond its borders.

The match will take place at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria.