Drive into Mamelodi Sundowns’ Midrand headquarters in Chloorkop and the parking lot is crowded with so many luxury cars you would think you had inadvertently ventured into the flashy Detroit or Paris motor shows.
It’s going to be even glitzier after the Brazilians virtually clinched the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title on Wednesday night with a stirring 3-1 win against Classic.
In the process, they’re poised to end a five-year league title drought after setting a record at the start of the millennium by winning three successive championships.
Orlando Pirates could only eke out a 1-1 draw with the resourceful Bush Bucks at the East London stadium on Wednesday, leaving Sundowns with a three-point lead.
And while the fat lady might not yet be singing, by all rational and logical assumptions Sundowns are already the PSL champions.
To prevent this from happening, intense rivals and title contenders The Buccaneers need to beat the Brazilians by six goals when they meet in the last game of the season on May 13. And there is as much chance of that as there is of a spacecraft from Jupiter landing on Earth at the same time.
Even allowing for the ”super category” vehicles of club president Patrice Motsepe and members of his administrative staff, the glittering wheels utilised by rank-and-file Sundowns players is evidence indeed that they are the best-paid squad in South African soccer.
Not in the Real Madrid or Chelsea bracket, of course, but playing for Sundowns certainly means you are not going to worry where your next meal is coming from. Indeed, in-and-out Zimbabwean international Peter Ndlovu’s salary is reputed to be R160 000 a month. And that’s not to mention fringe benefits like bonuses.
”Sometimes I think one of their players’ earnings is equal to 11 of ours,” says Moroka Swallows coach Gavin Hunt. ”Not that we are paying badly by South African standards, but when it comes to money, Sundowns are simply in a different league.”
”Hungry boxers make good boxers,” was the maxim of Brooklyn-born world champion Maxie Rosenbloom. It’s a view billionaire mining magnate and Sundowns president Motsepe may not share — with a whopping record amount, it is reported, already in the bank to secure the services for next season of top South African goalkeeper Calvin Marlin from SuperSport United.
Sundowns players are poised for an overall PSL team bonus of R2,5-million — calculated to be worth about R110 000 per player.
And this amount could double if they succeed in their quest for the PSL ”double” and go on to win the Absa Cup as well.
But first they have to overcome Kaizer Chiefs in the semifinals at the Royal Bafokeng stadium on Saturday, something they have not managed to do in a major cup clash since the creation of the PSL 10 years ago. Pirates tackle Classic at Loftus on Sunday to decide the other Absa Cup finalist.