Mamelodi Sundowns chasing glory, redemption and lasting legacies in CAF Champions League final

A Mamelodi Sundowns success story in the CAF Champions League this season will not only potentially seal chapters of lasting legacies, but it could also start pages of profound redemption and belonging.

Sundowns will face AS FAR in the Champions League final second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night (9pm kick-off). Anything other than a defeat would steer Sundowns to the continental crown, as they hold a crucial 1–0 advantage from the first leg at home.

The Brazilians’ success in the competition will importantly end the franchise's 10-year wait for a second star, while also ending coach Miguel Cardoso’s frustrating run of final heartbreaks. It could also brilliantly make up for lost ground should the team eventually lose the Betway Premiership title race to a resurgent Orlando Pirates.

A Sundowns triumph would seal immense personal achievements, with veteran duo Denis Onyango and Themba Zwane in line to win their second continental crown with the team, having both been part of the famous class of 2016. The duo, who are likely to hang up their gloves and boots at the end of the campaign, have given their all to Sundowns over the years — with Zwane becoming a genuine demigod in South African football, widely admired even by opposition fans.

Zwane, whose workload has been carefully managed by the technical team to maintain freshness at the age of 36, has witnessed the burning desire of his teammates to get their hands on the trophy, especially after last season’s near miss in the final against Pyramids.

“Going into this final, we know what to expect and what to do. The only aim is to lift the trophy after the tournament. That’s all,” Zwane said on the club’s official media platforms ahead of the team’s delayed departure to Rabat, via Casablanca, on Wednesday.

“I learnt that we are mentally strong — the brotherhood is strong. We support one another. The fact that we are still here after the heavy schedule that we faced, coming back home and playing every three days, showed our mental strength.”

One player who has shown immense mental strength this season is Peter Shalulile. The Namibian international has battled injuries and limited game-time this term, resulting in him uncharacteristically falling down the pecking order. However, he has remained a vital dressing-room figure, supporting his teammates from the sidelines and giving his absolute best on the pitch through his relentless running and pressing.

Winning the Champions League would not only cement his legendary status as the current PSL era's top goalscorer with 136 goals, but it would also serve as a fitting farewell gift should he leave the club at the end of the season. The soft-spoken Namibian knows there is no better chance to fulfil a personal goal and a long-standing promise made to club chairman Thlopie Motsepe.

“We set targets when we came to this club,” Shalulile noted. “I promised myself, and even the chairman, that we would top the table and win the trophy. That’s how badly we want it.”

While Zwane and Shalulile are chasing potential club swansongs, Keanu Cupido wants to lay a solid foundation that could earn him legendary status during his spell in Pretoria. Cupido joined Sundowns early last year but initially battled for regular game-time due to fierce competition and minor setbacks. However, after an impressive outing at the Club World Cup at the end of last season, he has blossomed into a crucial figure in the starting line-up.

He has become so vital that he played the grueling first leg against AS FAR under heavy medication due to a painful shoulder problem. His hard work and willingness to put his body on the line for the badge have seen a growing chorus of pundits call for him to be drafted into Bafana Bafana’s final World Cup squad.

The defender remains firmly focused on creating history with the team for now, knowing it could be the perfect springboard to the national side.

“It’s been a privilege and an honour to reach this far in the competition,” Cupido concluded. “It’s not over yet. I want to add genuine value by winning it with the team. When I arrived, I felt immediately that this is exactly what the club wanted.”