The African Football League title is in the bag and this should spur Mamelodi Sundowns on to win the CAF Champions League title.
Imagine what it would do for the club. Imagine what it would do for Rulani Mokwena. Imagine what it would do for the players. Imagine what it would do for South African football. All the possibilities thereafter. It would be massive.
It would put them on another level and the respect they already have on the continent would shoot through the roof. And there is no better time for Sundowns to have a full go at the Champions League title than now. They can't take their foot off the pedal. Certainly not now. Not after showing the rest of Africa what they can do in the AFL.
The AFL success is exactly what they need to spur them on to success in the Champions League, considering they beat giants Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca to claiming the title.
What Mokwena needs to guard against after winning the AFL is complacency, but that hasn't been too much of a problem at Sundowns. They are well aware of the fact that they need to get the job done and the possibility of being African champions for the first time since 2016 is one that should have the players rubbing their hands together and licking their lips.
It's unlike last season when they won the DSTV Premiership title with seven matches to go and things did not quite go as smoothly after that. Now they still have many months left in the season and they know that any complacency that creeps in at this stage will not mess up what has been a good season so far.
The Africa Cup of Nations in January should give Sundowns a much-needed break to relax a bit and work on key areas in the team, as well as go into the market to secure the services of players who will give them that extra edge to go all the way in all the major competitions they will be involved in, including the Nedbank Cup.
While some players will be away for AFCON, a lot of them will be getting rest to prepare for the second half of the season and that's exactly what they need.
Pitso Mosimane once said that Mokwena would surpass him at Sundowns and winning the Champions League title this season, after the AFL, would certainly put the young coach on another level.
The North African teams will definitely start knocking on Mokwena's door a lot more if he can lead Sundowns to two continental titles in one season. Looking at how Sundowns performed in the AFL, it's certainly possible. They have the personnel and know-how to overcome the challenges that come with juggling the domestic league and Champions League.
