Mamelodi Sundowns players will share the biggest bonus in South African soccer history if they win the MTN 8 knockout competition on Saturday night.
Downs media spokesperson Matlhatse Mphalele said on Monday that club management had agreed that the players would share the R8-million winner-takes-all prize should they beat Kaizer Chiefs in the final scheduled for Durban’s Absa Stadium on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 8.15pm.
Mphalele said: ”It is a huge incentive. But it is also part of the club’s policy to reward players for the good work they do. We feel that if they beat Chiefs in what promises to be a tough final, then they will have more than earned their early Christmas bonus.”
Even the millionaire stars at Downs will not be able to turn their noses up at an R8-million windfall. The standard practice in local soccer is that the players share half and the other half of any prize money won goes to the club.
But Sundowns’ billionaire president, Patrice Motsepe, is not short of cash and his generous gesture will further put pressure on struggling Chiefs to match his offer to the players.
Downs are firm favourites but Brazilians skipper Michael Manzini said that the fact they were not able to play last weekend meant the players had to work harder on the training ground.
Downs Absa Premiership fixture scheduled for the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville last weekend was postponed due to the shock death of AmaZulu striker Siyabonga Mkhwanazi last week.
But the Downs skipper said the spirit in the camp was sky high: ”We will be putting the final touches to our preparations during the next few days. I believe this will be the key. It will be the team that is better prepared team who will hold the aces, and hopefully that will be Sundowns.” — Sapa