Andrew Muchineripi SOCCER
The World Cup inspection team came, saw and were very impressed. Sundowns and Orlando Pirates served up a six-goal feast, and the Amaglug-glug once again captured the hearts of the nation with a thrilling win over Ghana.
All is well within the South African soccer kingdom, and there is a real chance of more celebrations this weekend when we begin our challenge for continental club glory.
Kaizer Chiefs set the ball rolling at the unusual setting of the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on the evening of Saturday March 18 with an African Football Confederation Cup showdown against Mbabane Highlanders of Swaziland.
On Sunday, Sundowns host Lesotho Defence Force in the Champions League at Loftus Stadium, and SuperSport United travel to Mozambique for a Cup Winners’ Cup date against Costa do Sol.
While accepting that the opposition does not exactly come from the top strata of African clubs, our teams should be mindful that the vast distance which once existed between the best and the rest has shrunk considerably.
Defence Force came from three goals behind to hold Manning Rangers in Maseru two years ago and lost the return match by a solitary goal, while Costa and Highlanders have much more experience of Africa than their rivals.
That said, this humble member of the Muchineripi clan sees no reason why Sundowns and Chiefs cannot build three- goal leads ahead of the return matches during the first weekend of April.
It would be unrealistic to expect a similar result from SuperSport, however, and if coach Bruce Grobbelaar and his squad return from Maputo on level terms they should be satisfied.
The time has come for South African clubs to make a much bigger impact on the three continental competitions and follow in the footsteps of 1995 Champions League winners Orlando Pirates.
Remember that wonderful Saturday evening in early December when an amateurish defensive mix-up by Asec in Ivory Coast gave Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana the chance to score the cup-clinching goal?
Remember that wonderful moment several days later when Pirates chair Irvin Khoza held the trophy aloft at Johannesburg International airport, supported by Chiefs counterpart Kaizer Motaung?
There have been other impressive runs, notably by Rangers in the Champions League and by Pirates and Jomo Cosmos in the Cup Winners’ Cup. But let us be honest and admit there is considerable room for improvement.
Sundowns are a case in point. They have been into Africa four times and never progressed beyond the second round, despite facing largely modest opposition.
Last year they were eliminated from the Champions League by Saint Louisienne from the tiny French-governed Indian Ocean island of Reunion in embarrassing fashion. The Brazilians overcame a 1-1 home draw to lead 2-0 approaching half- time in the second leg before losing 4-2. Dynamos of Zimbabwe later showed how it should have been done with a seven-goal savaging of the Saints in Harare.
Coach Paul Dolezar speaks confidently, perhaps too confidently, of Africa. To him, only North African giants like Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Esperance of Tunisia pose a serious threat.
I beg to differ. Assuming Sundowns overcome Defence Force, then Nkana of Zambia or Stade Tamponnaise await, and both clubs have eliminated Sundowns from Africa.
Tamponnaise triumphed 2-1 in the 1996 CAF Cup clash that included an own goal from former Bafana Bafana defender Sizwe Motaung, and Nkana won by the same aggregate score two years ago.
Al-Ittihad of Libya or Great Olympics of Ghana await SuperSport, should they successfully clear the initial hurdle, and Nchanga Rangers of Zambia or DSA of Madagascar are next in line for Chiefs.
If the first round separates the men from the boys, the second separates the giants from the pygmies. The bottom line for the three South African representatives should be places among the last eight. With the final countdown looming towards the July 6 decision on who hosts the 2006 World Cup, every South African success, on and off the field, boosts our chances of winning over the FIFA executive committee.
Africa has justifiably complained in the past about lukewarm South African interest in the Champions League, Cup Winners’ Cup and CAF Cup competitions. It is wonderful that a great club like Chiefs are back where they belong, but let this not be a one-off appearance. Our roots are in Africa and it is only with the support of our brothers and sisters that we can conquer the world.
ENDS