Mamelodi Sundowns reached the final of the CAF Champions League in dramatic fashion. Njabulo Ngidi looks at the bumpy road to the final in a three-part series.
Today, in part two, he looks at the group stage.
Johannesburg - The Brazilians were parading their Absa Premiership title when CAF reinstated them in the group stage of the Champions League.
On the same day, Sundowns were drawn in a tough group that featured Algeria’s ES Setif, Enyimba of Nigeria and Egyptian giants Zamalek.
These three clubs have won a combined nine Champions League titles, while Sundowns’ best performance was reaching the final in 2001. It was a tough ask for the side from Pretoria to finish in the top two of such a group, let alone win it.
Because they entered the group stage via the “back door”, coach Pitso Mosimane told his players to go out there and have fun. He borrowed a leaf out of Denmark’s book.
The Danes were told at the 11th hour, with some players already on holiday, that they can play in the European Championship in 1992 to replace war-torn Yugoslavia.
The side went to the tournament to have fun. Without pressure to succeed, they went and won the trophy.
Sundowns also started their campaign without much pressure to succeed as they were expected to be the weaklings of their group.
After the players cancelled their holiday plans, they got down to business.
They started their campaign against Setif. Sundowns dominated the Algerians, comfortably cruising to a 2-0 win. The home crowd didn’t take that defeat well.They threw missiles and disrupted the match.
CAF slapped the club with a fine and kicked them out of the tournament. The result was annulled which meant Sundowns had to wait for their first points.
It didn’t affect them that much.
They won their next three matches to qualify for the semi-final with a game to spare. A double over Zamalek provided two of those three wins as the Brazilians sent a strong message.
Their trips to Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria were taxing, especially as most of them came in pre-season when other South African clubs were resting.
It tested Sundowns’ medical and fitness teams as they had to ensure that the exertions didn't drain the players just before they started the defence of the league title they were celebrating when they were given a lifeline by CAF.
Keagan Dolly, who travelled with Bafana Bafana on the continent and also went to Brazil with the national Under-23 team for the Olympics, had to be managed cautiously so that he didn't burn out.
“I’ll probably retire after this tournament,” Dolly joked. “It’s been a very busy year. I have travelled all over Africa with Sundowns and the national teams. It’s what I live for. But you do get tired and a bit drained.
“But they look after us quite well here at Sundowns. After each and every game, they give us as much time off as they can. We get two or three days off. When you get back, you come revived and fresh.”
Mosimane rested Dolly and a number of players when Sundowns travelled to Nigeria to take on Enyimba with a spot in the semi-finals already booked.
The People’s Elephants had already been knocked out. The loss, in a muddy pitch, didn’t mean much for the Brazilians because they had a date with Zesco United in the semi-final.
Group Stage
ES Setif 0-2 Mamelodi Sundowns - Setif, June 18
Result annulled
Sundowns 2-1 Enyimba - Pretoria, June 29
Zamalek 1-2 Sundowns - Cairo, July 17
Sundowns 1-0 Zamalek - Pretoria, July 27
Enyimba 3-1 Sundowns - Port Harcourt, August 23
Sundowns finished on top of Group B with nine points
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The Star