Mamelodi Sundowns' Ronwen Williams encourages teammates during their CAF Champions League quarter-final encounter against Stade Malien at Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali, earlier this season.
Image: BackpagePix
Perhaps this is finally the year it happens. What, exactly? The year that South African footballing giants Mamelodi Sundowns finally secure that elusive second CAF Champions League trophy.
The "Brazilians" last tasted continental glory in 2016. Since then, their record at this stage of the competition has been a mixed bag. The Tshwane-based side is set to appear in the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive season — their seventh appearance overall.
Of their previous six semi-final ties, they have won three and lost the same number. Notably, four of those encounters were against North African opposition, resulting in three defeats.
Last year, Sundowns fell agonizingly short, losing the final to Egyptian newcomers Pyramids FC. It marked the second Champions League final for Sundowns’ Portuguese head coach, Miguel Cardoso.
While that was Cardoso’s first final with the South African side, he now prepares to face Esperance de Tunis in the first leg of their last-four clash away this Sunday.
The tactician will be desperate to reach a second successive final, but history warns of a difficult task; Sundowns have struggled against North African sides recently. In the 2023/24 campaign, they were eliminated by an Esperance side — ironically then coached by Cardoso himself — who advanced with a 2-0 aggregate victory.
Why suggest "this is the year"? Beyond the usual clichès, there is the undeniable "World Cup factor." With South Africa returning to the global showpiece for the first time in 16 years, the domestic game is riding a wave of renewed optimism.
The Sundowns squad is the backbone of Bafana Bafana. Established internationals like Teboho Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, and Ronwen Williams are already staples of the national team, but they will be eager to elevate their game before testing themselves against global superstars in Mexico.
Furthermore, for those on the fringes — the likes of Jayden Adams, Khulumane Ndamane, Grant Kekana, and Iqraam Rayners — continental performance is everything. A dominant display in the Champions League semi-finals could provide the competitive edge needed to book a seat on the plane.
Ultimately, Sundowns’ performance in the final four may serve as a preview of South Africa's fortunes on the world stage. How they handle the pressure now could tell us a great deal about how Bafana Bafana will fare in World Cup Group A, where they face daunting fixtures against co-hosts Mexico, the Korea Republic, and Czechia.
In short: Good luck to Mamelodi Sundowns is good luck to Bafana Bafana!