By Batsirai Sango.
Tshwane giants Mamelodi Sundowns wrote a piece of their own history, one to be celebrated for years to come becoming the pioneering champions of the African Football league.
And what a way to do that, doing it in front of the Masandawana faithful as the continental titans are affectionately called by their loyal fans.
And titans there were in this just ended African Football league which had 7 other teams in Cairo giants Al Ahly of Egypt, Tunis giants Esperance of Tunisia, Lubumbashi giants Tp Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Luanda outfit Petro Luanda of Angola, Dar es Salaam colossals Simba FC alongside Casablanca giants Wydad Athletic and Enyimba of Nigeria.
When the idea was first coined of an African Football league critics were quick to be pessimistic but Caf leadership led by the capable, able stewardship of Dr. Patrice Motsepe stuck to their guns.
A shrewd and successful business magnet who needs no appointment to meet any of the big personalities on the continent in Aliko Dangote, Moise Katumbi even heads of state on the motherland, the ship of African Football has a Captain up to the challenges facing the game on the continent.
In any line of business the most crucial aspect is funding to ensure sustainability and with the business sense applying to modern football, African football has been legging behind and having a business man at the helm would not have been more timely.
And what a treat to some of the most exquisite football on the continent the football mad fans on the motherland were treated to.
Enroute to the final Mamelodi Sundowns had to get past the hurdle of regional nemesis in Petro Luanda of Angola beating the Angola outfit away in Luanda 2nil courtesy of Marcelo Allende and Thaphelo Maseko goals.
The Brazilians of African Football would go on to defend that scoreline days later in Pretoria securing their passage to the last four where they met a familiar foe in Cairo giants Al Ahly of Egypt.
Any football pundit would concur that the match between the two has become the biggest match on the continent a derby between the North and South.
Any match in fact between Mamelodi Sundowns and any team from the north side of the motherland has the football mad fans in Golden silence in sheer anticipation of an epic titanic battle.
Tshwane giants Mamelodi Sundowns were first to host their counterparts triumping 1nil and forcing a stalemate in the return leg in Cairo days later.
And then they were two meeting a familiar rival in Wydad Athletic of Morocco, a team that has twice denied Sundowns a place in the final of the champions league knocking them out in the semis the most recent being last season’s.
The first of the 2 legged final played host to the Morrocans in Casablanca with Mamelodi Sundowns drawing first blood only to lose 2-1, however the stage had been set for an entertaining 2nd leg considering Sundowns would be home in front of their fans.
For purposes of statistics and to appreciate the colossal nature of the encounter an estimated audience of 300million watched the first leg between Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Casablanca which goes to show the Gigantic football standing both teams have.
In front of a rapturous crowd painting almost the entire stadium yellow with the hometeam’s regalia with the Brazilians’ chief marksman Peter Shalulile returning from injury it was all set for entertaining encounter.
With shoe shine football on display the Casablanca giants were on the ropes from the first WHISTLE, as the Brazilians were looking for that priceless goal to tilt the match in their favor with the away goals rule still in place.
It was not long before before the pressure paid off with lovely interplay at edge of the box that led to a shot at goal, with Wydad Athletic goalkeeper failing to decisively deal with the ball and onto Shalulile’s path it came and the returning chief marksman made no mistake from close range to put Sundowns into the lead.
Liverpool’Anfield stadium is famed for its electric atmosphere, and on the African continent Sundowns’ Loftus Verzfield stadium surely does hold their own.
It was all yellow as the Tshwane yellow nation was in anticipation of glory and history.
The Casablanca giants had no chance as the noise was deafening and the Brazilians went to the break leading 1nil.
With the 2nd interval of the match Sundowns were slowly smelling victory and could see the promised land in sight and what exquisite football as the Brazilians showed they are true Brazilians.
It was not long before the visitors gave in once more as pressure made Wydad defender attempt a back pass to one of his teammates, and Aubrey Modiba intercepted beating his marker and with an exquisite chip over the goalkeeper trying to intercept made it 2nil raising the roof of the entire Loftus stadium.
With the final whistle of the game Tshwane giants had got themselves another piece of continental silverware as they became the inaugural champions of the African Football league which was a successful episode in African football.
Kabo Yellow Masandawana and Coach Rulani!
