History might be against Sundowns, but...

Johannesburg - Sundowns will have to do something that has never been achieved when they face Zamalek over two legs in the final.

The fact that Mamelodi Sundowns have already beaten Zamalek twice in this year’s CAF Champions League is sure to lead many to install the Brazilians as favourites for the final of the continent’s premier club competition.

But records actually suggest otherwise.

Pitso Mosimane’s team host the White Knights of Egypt in the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow looking to join Orlando Pirates as the only South African teams to have become African champions.

And their two defeats of Zamalek, 1-0 at home and 2-1 away, in the group stage no doubt have their fans confident they will be purchasing replica jerseys with a star above the club badge in the near future.

Yet if precedence is anything to go by, then the Egyptian giants are most likely to collect their sixth title. On two occasions in the competition’s history, teams that had the upperhand in the group stages lost in the final.

And Sundowns’ need not go far to discover that enjoying the better of the group stage clashes against Egyptian opposition does not equate to success in the final.

Pirates, champions in 1995, had the chance to add a second trophy three years ago. And it certainly looked like they would as they lined up against an Al Ahly outfit they had clobbered 3-0 in Cairo and held goalless in Soweto.

But the final was a complete turnaround, Ahly drawing 1-1 in South African and then beating Pirates 2-0 in Cairo to gain sweet revenge when it mattered most.

Nine years earlier in 2004, Tunisian outfit Etoile du Sahel got four points out of their round-robin meetings with Nigeria’s Enyimba. But it was the People’s Elephants who lifted the trophy when the two teams met at the ultimate stage, Enyimba winning that final on penalties.

There were five other instances where finalists had met in the group stage, but they all ended on the same points in the mini-league phase.

Can Sundowns rewrite the history books and take their domination of Zamalek to the final as well? South African football will be willing them on. - MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

Johannesburg - History might be against Sundowns, but the Brazilians have constantly defied the odds in the CAF Champions League. After suffering the heartbreak of being eliminated by an away goal in the second round against AS Vita, CAF gave Pitso Mosimane and his men a life-line when they kicked out Vita for fielding a suspended player.

Sundowns made the most of this chance even though they were drawn in a tough group.

A combined nine CAF Champions League titles were held by their opponents in Group B, Egyptian giants Zamalek (five), ES Setif of Algeria (two) and Nigeria’s Enyimba (two). The Brazilians’ best effort was reaching the final 15 years ago. That gulf in class and the fact that they entered the group stage via the backdoor saw Sundowns being looked at as the whipping boys.

But they turned that around and dominated their more successful opponents in the continent.

They made history when they became the first South African side to beat Zamalek back-to-back to qualify for the semi-finals with a game to spare.

What will see them continue to make history by winning the Champions League is that they aren’t under pressure to do so.

For Zamalek, on the other hand, it’s a win at all cost affair.The White Knights’ coach Moamen Soliman said he would resign should his side not win the Champions League. He might not have a choice even though he joined the club midway through this campaign. He took over after they lost the league to rivals Al Ahly and then won the Egypt Cup. But being African champions is a priority for Zamalek. They have waited for 14 years while Al-Ahly overtook them to become the most successful club in the competition.

Zamalek will play with more experience of handling this stage but Sundowns won’t be constrained by what will happen should they lose. After all, Mosimane did say that this campaign is about having fun, he will give it a real challenge next season. There is a big possibility he could return next year not to challenge but to retain the Champions League trophy. - NJABULO NGIDI

2003

Group stage: Ismaily (EGY) 6, Enyimba (NGR) 1; Enyimba 4, Ismaily 2

Final: Enyimba 2, Ismaily 0; Ismaily 1, Enyimba 0

2003

Group stage: Etoile Sahel (TUN) 1, Enyimba (NGR) 0; Enyimba 1, Etoile 1

Final: Etoile 2, Enyimba 1; Enyimba 2,Etoile 1 (Enyimba won on penalties)

2006

Group stage: Al Ahly (EGY) 2, CS Sfaxien (TUN) 1; Sfaxien 1, Ahly 0

Final: Ahly 1, Sfaxien 1; Sfaxien 0, Ahly 1

2009

Group stage: TP Mazembe (COD) 2, Heartland (NGR) 0; Heartland 2, Mazembe 0

Final: Heartland 2, Mazembe 1; Mazembe 1, Heartland 0 (Mazembe won on away goals)