Ntuthuko Maphumulo
Reigning league champions Orlando Pirates were the first team from the southern tip of Africa to have won the continental champions’ league, and they will get their chance again in the next edition of the competition.
Former champions Sundowns are representing South Africa for the third time in a row, but their campaign is not going too well. In their five games so far, they have managed to score just one goal (which gave them their sole victory), and have not sparkled in three other goalless draws and a 0-2 loss. The $1-million prize money does not seem enough of a carrot to raise them out of their torpor.
Sundowns face Julius Berger of Nigeria this weekend in a clash that will determine which team goes through to the semifinals.
On the home front Sundowns are faring even worse. They have not won a game since the season began and lie second from the bottom of the Premier Soccer League table. The Sundowns team is known for its carpet football but that seems to have disappeared into thin air of late, and even new signing Simba Marumo’s goals have not lifted the side.
Marumo’s strikes, which include that solitary Champions League effort, have saved face for Sundowns, but Carlo Scott is looking for his first goal in the Brazilians’ colours.
Domestic cup competitions have been ignominious failures for the side too. First they didn’t get enough votes to defend their charity cup and then, having reached the final of the BP Top Eight against Kaizer Chiefs, they reduced the penalty shoot-out to a farce. Charles Motlohi refused to take his spot-kick, and when his replacement missed, Mothohi got a slap (chesa mpama) from captain Daniel Mudau. That resulted in a yet-to-be-held PSL disciplinary hearing.
The club is also in hot water over its failure to honour a league fixture against Cosmos. That disciplinary hearing was postponed this week.
Sundowns have not been spared off-the-field problems either, with a number of players taking the club to court over contract irregularities.
Sundowns have escaped all their boardroom wrangles but they will not be able to escape their continued poor performance on the pitch.
Julies Berger on the other hand have scored six goals in the tournament and allowed five past their goalkeeper. The Nigerians have registered two wins, a draw and a loss and are second from the top of their group. Esperance of Tunisia have already booked themselves a place in the semifinal with one game to play against TP Mazembe of Congo and will be hoping to win the cup for the second time.
In the other group Petro Atletico of Angola are through to the semifinals with one game in hand against Asec. Coincindentally, Sundowns MD Natasha Tschiclas has been appointed as match commissioner. Al Ahly of Egypt have won the cup twice and lie second in the group.