With Mamelodi Sundowns setting the high standards yet again after reaching the final of the African Football League (AFL), praises are pouring for the Chlookop outfit.
The Brazilians defeated Egyptian giants Al Ahly 1-0 on aggregate in the two-legged semi-final to reach the final of the inaugural competition where they will face Wydad Casablanca from Morocco in the two-legged final.
Rulani Mokwena's side will be competing for R76 million in prize money in the AFL final on November 5 and 12 respectively.
For the runners-up, R57 million is the prize money but former Sundowns defender Phelelani Mpangase is confident in Downs' chances to bag the top prize.
The Good
"This is a very big cup competition and to be honest with you in the beginning I never imagined Sundowns making it to the final. I did expect the team to do well but making it to the final was never in my imagination. But it is now evident that with all the experience that Sundowns has gathered in playing in the CAF Champions League, they can compete with everyone in Africa and in any league on the continent and do well. I mean, who travels to Cairo and plays as if playing at home under those hostile conditions? You don't usually see that, but Sundowns has been doing it and it's a process. I still remember when I was still at Sundowns and it was in 2008 when the club's former president Patrice Motsepe said he wanted the club to conquer Africa. Look at where the team is now, it is up there with the big guns. That's what I like about Sundowns, it doesn't matter who is there but what is being done by the club is always on point," said Mpangase.
The Bad
On the struggles that Downs faced days before the CAF's new continental competition
"I think it was very wrong of the PSL to be reluctant to open space for Sundowns in the domestic schedule to participate in the CAF competition. From the moment it was announced that Sundowns would be playing in the competition, it should have been excitement for everybody as it meant that the team would be representing South Africa. There should have been no doubts about backing the team. I still remember when Kaizer Chiefs was doing well in the Champions League, I was fully behind them with my support. Even recently, when Pirates played against the team from Botswana (Jwaneng Galaxy), I was supporting them. I feel that it should be common practice that we all support South African teams when they play against opponents from outside of the country," he said.
The Ugly
On the change of date for the second leg of the AFL Final from 11 November (Soweto derby day) to 12 November
"I feel that the PSL was supposed to support Sundowns in terms of moving the date of the Soweto derby. I know that the Soweto derby cannot be played at night as that can lead to problems, but the game could have been moved to Sundowns, for example. Maybe there were concerns that moving it to a Sunday would have created problems for some of the supporters who would have to travel long distances after the game while scheduled to work the following day but still I feel something needed to be done to all Sundowns to play on the scheduled date. I do understand that the Soweto derby is big, but I believe that this cup competition is bigger than it in terms of what is at stake, and we are not just talking about history here. Yes, the Soweto derby might be about the bragging rights on who wins to get the three points on the day but there isn't much that the two teams are playing for at this stage," concluded Mpangase.
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