Continental football appeals even less to the Cape Town fans than the Premier League. Only 600 turned up at Athlone Stadium on Sunday to see Santos advance to the next round of the Confederations Cup.
The small crowd was in contrast to the first leg in Cameroon, where a near packed stadium in Yaounde watched the teams draw 1-1 in the first leg.
Santos boss Goolam Allie said he was puzzled.
"We are not only representing Cape Town, but South Africa," he said. "The local soccer fans should rally behind local teams."
The eight remaining teams in the Confederations Cup will now be divided into two groups of four with Santos and Orlando Pirates, the other South African team, in the same group.
Allie can be assured of at least one good attendance because the Buccaneers, along with Kaizer Chiefs, are one of the few guaranteed drawcards in South African soccer.
Sunday's match was significant in Santos' African campaign. They have played 14 matches in African club soccer and have never been beaten.
"Most times we went out on the away goal rule," said Allie.
And after Sunday, Santos captain Edries Burton believes his team can go all the way to the final.
"The team showed a lot of character and considering that some key players were not available, we did well," he said.
On Sunday Santos fought well against a team they claim to have been very physical in the first leg.
This time Zimbabwe referee Joseph Mususa kept a check on the Cameroonians.
Both Santos goal-scorers, Marawaan Bantam and Thembile Kanono, took their goals well and Ryan Wuest, in goal for Santos, made a few good saves, the best of which came when he dived to his left to stop a stinger from Emmanuel Iloga.
The Santos defence of Musa Otieno, Duran Francis, John Mbidzo and Burton played it tight, while Mxolisi Mchunu, Bantam, Kanono and Tyren Arendse were outstanding in the midfield.
Santos attacked from the start and in the 16th minute Arendse's 20-metre drive hit the cross bar.
A minute later Mbidzo kicked up field and Arendse tried to loft the ball over keeper Mbarga Ndoe's head while he was well out of position, but the ball went straight at the goalkeeper.
Santos took the lead when Canon's defenders failed to clear and Bantam's 50-metre drive flew into the net.
Canon were awarded a free kick near the right corner flag and Francois Ndongo put over a superb cross which goalkeeper Wuest palmed away.
Santos doubled their score when Kanono beat two defenders in the box before scooping the ball into the back of the net.
In Champions League, favourites Esperance of Tunisia and holders Enyimba of Nigeria were in merciless mood at the weekend.
Esperance overwhelmed Jeanne d'Arc of Senegal 5-0 and Enyimba went one better with a 6-0 drubbing of Bakili Bullets of Malawi in home games to consolidate their leadership of the two four-club groups.
The individual heroes were Tunisian striker Ali Zitouni, whose two goals followed another brace against Supersport United in the first series of mini-league matches two weeks ago, and Muri Ogunbiyi from Benin.
Ogunbiyi snatched two late goals to complete a dark day for Bullets, the first Malawian club to reach the pool phase of the annual competition.
Santos(2) 2
(Marawaan Bantam 23rd min, Thembile Kanono 30th)
Canon Yaounde (Cameroon)0
- Santos win 3-1 on aggregate
- Santos:
Wuest, Francis, Otieno, Mbidzo, Burton, Arendse, Mchunu, Bantam (Xaba 88th), Cloete (Jansen 85th), Kanono (Tsotetsi 73rd), Ithier.
- Canon Yaounde:
Ndoe, Nnomo, Edoa (Mokake 55th), Ndongo, Misseck, Ndfana, Coulro, Inpgues, Ndjom (Iloga 70th), Mangolo (Momo 88th), Maemble.