How Africa News
With Mamelodi Sundowns having secured their seventh Absa Premiership title, Pitso Mosimane’s next task will be to dominate the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Brazilians made light work of the University of Pretoria as Anthony Laffor netted a hat-trick at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday to secure the league.
Mosimane’s charges secured the title with two games to spare, with clashes against Bidvest Wits and Platinum Stars still to come.
But now Mosimane can shift his focus to a trophy that has become a poisoned chalice for PSL clubs.
The former Bafana Bafana coach has spoken of his desire in the past to ensure the Brazilians get their hands on African silverware.
The Chloorkop side failed to make an impact in the CAF Champions League this season after AS Vita secured a passage to the next round through the away goals rule which meant Sundowns got dropped to playing in Africa’s “Europa League”.
“It would be nice to have four South African teams in the semi-finals of CONFED and Champions League. I think it is going to be good for our country,” Mosimane said in 2014.
South Africa needs to take playing in Africa seriously to improve, not only the quality of football in the country, but the interest in it as well.
“My president, Patrice Motsepe wants it, my players want it and it is something our supporters could cherish forever,” echoed Mosimane in the second-half of the 2014/15 campaign where Sundowns made slow progress in the Champions League.
Motsepe was so ecstatic with Mosimane’s early PSL triumph that he rushed onto the field via a Mercedes Benz as he was pictured in crutches and a cast.
SUNDOWNS TRYING IN AFRICA
Sundowns have been attempting to form a team in order to break the South African CAF drought.
In the past two years Orlando Pirates have been holding the country’s name in high esteem following their almost CAF victories in 2014 and 2015.
The Parktown club played in the Champions League final in 2014 against Al Ahly while the following year they lost in the Confederation Cup final against Etoile du Sahel.
2016 could be Sundowns’ year as they begin their Confederation Cup journey this weekend against Ghanaian club, Medeama SC.
“Let’s go for CAF, let’s go for the league, that’s it,” Mosimane said at the beginning of April, after being knocked out of the Nedbank Cup.
Now with bagging the PSL early, ‘Jingles’ has got time to ensure his president gets that CAF glory he has been yearning for.
Sundowns welcome Medeama on Saturday, May 7 for the first-leg of their Round of 16 encounter.
Meanwhile, Sundowns are set to lift the Absa Premiership trophy on the last weekend of the PSL on May 21.
Source: Sports24
