Optimism the buzzword with South Africa well represented in continental contests this season

Andre de Jong of Stellenbosch FC attempts to get past Keenan Phillips of Golden Arrows during their Premiership match at Athlone Stadium on 18 September 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Shaun Roy / Gallo Images)

By Yanga Sibembe

25 Sep 2024

South Africa will be well represented in the group stages of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF’s) continental competitions this season.

While Stellenbosch have sealed their debut appearance in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, South Africa’s two representatives in the CAF Champions League are highly experienced campaigners on the continent.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have each won one Champions League title. In the 2024/25 campaign of Africa’s premier club competition, the two juggernauts are both targeting memorable runs. As are Stellies in the second-tier Confed Cup.

Second time’s the charm

Pirates are into the group stages of the competition for the first time in six years. They qualified for last season’s contest after finishing as runners-up to Sundowns during the 2022/23 season. However, the Sea Robbers encountered some stormy waters and could not navigate past Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy and were felled in the preliminary stage.

As fate would have it, the sides were once again drawn against each other during this season’s preliminary rounds. At the second time of asking, José Riveiro’s charges made no mistakes as they dispatched their neighbours 3-0 on aggregate and sealed their berth in the group phase.

For Riveiro, who has proven to be something of a knockout competition king since arriving in South Africa more than two years ago, his debut in the Champions League group phase presents an amazing opportunity to add glitter to his already blindingly bright reputation.

Deano van Rooyen of Orlando Pirates during their CAF Champions League, First Preliminary Round, second-leg match against Jwaneng Galaxy at Orlando Stadium on 21 September 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)

Although it has been tough for the Buccaneers to keep close to Sundowns in the longer format of the league – finishing 23 points behind Masandawana last season – under Riveiro the Soweto side has now reached five domestic finals.

They have been victorious in the four they have played, while they are set to play the fifth on 5 October against Stellenbosch, where they will be aiming to clinch the MTN8 for an impressive third consecutive season.

It is with this knowledge that the talented Sea Robbers squad has been touted as one of the contenders, despite the fact that they last tasted success in the continental showpiece almost three decades ago, winning in 1995.

Patchy performances

Since then the team’s performances have been patchy, when they have qualified. Their runs have been littered with preliminary round exits, plus the odd quarterfinal and semifinal appearance. The last time they navigated all the way to the final was in 2013. They were vanquished by Al Ahly.

Maybe it is for this reason that Pirates coach Riveiro has moved to manage expectations before what promises to be an exciting and testing continental campaign for his side.

South Africa’s prospects of performing memorably in continental competition this season have been bolstered.

“It was one of our main objectives to be in the group stage. It’s something that we have to replicate every year, it’s very important to be there with the best teams on the continent,” Riveiro said.

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker. (Photo: Shaun Roy / Gallo Images)

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images)

José Riveiro, the head coach of Orlando Pirates. (Photo: Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)

“It’s important for the group. We have a very young team. For most of them, it’s their first time in the group stage of the Champions League. It is (the same) for me as the coach,” the Spanish tactician added.

Helping the Bucs reach this stage is yet another feather added to the hat of Riveiro, a coach whose credentials were heavily doubted when he first landed in South Africa in 2022. Naturally, the humble mentor has expressed his pride at this milestone.

“It’s absolutely special for me. Not everyone has an opportunity to coach Orlando Pirates,” said Riveiro – who is into his third season with the Sea Robbers.

However, knowing his competitive spirit his team will be out to leave a lasting impression while working towards closing the gap created by Sundowns in the Premiership, as well maintaining their remarkable domestic cup streak.

The depth and quality that the Spaniard has built since taking over the reins will be tested immensely this season. As will the team’s mental fortitude, with games coming every three days coupled with the challenge of travelling to various African countries.

Eyes on the prize

A team that is well acquainted with all the struggles that come with Champions League soccer is Sundowns. Despite a coaching change that saw the departure of previous coach Rulani Mokwena, and the ascension of his former assistant Manqoba Mngqithi to the head coach seat, the Brazilians head into this competition as one of the favourites.

The Pretoria-based side won their sole Champions League title in 2016. Since then, it’s been a fruitless exercise trying to add to this haul, despite perennial participation. Last season they were semifinalists, as was the case in 2023.

This season, the experienced campaigners are out to ensure that they finally reconquer Africa.

“When I started coaching I always wanted to win, and I wanted to replicate my name as many times as I could. That definition of who I view myself as has always driven me to want to win every match that I play,” said Mngqithi, who was Pitso Mosimane’s assistant when they won the Champions League in 2016.

“When I got to Mamelodi Sundowns, I wanted to be a part of a team that would win the championship. One has been fortunate to have won about nine championships. Once I won one championship, my desire moved to the Champions League, and fortunately we won that,” the coach said.

“Currently, my biggest ambition as a coach is to win the Champions League. I will give everything I have to win it. I am very optimistic that we’ve got a realistic chance,” Mngqithi said.

He added that he believed the presence of Pirates, in addition to his side, “maximises the chances of a South African team winning the Champions League”.

Stellies rise

While Pirates and Sundowns are veterans in continental competition, Stellenbosch find themselves on unknown terrain. However, by qualifying for the group stage of the Confederation Cup, the team has shown that it possesses the quality and hunger to compete.

A few additions to bolster their player personnel will also be key in ensuring that Steve Barker’s men retain their competitive edge across competitions.

“We are a young club and reaching the group stage of the competition is very special for us,” said Barker after his team successfully navigated the preliminary round by beating DR Congo’s AS Vita 3-1 on aggregate.

This maiden foray into Africa will mostly be a learning experience for the Cape Winelands club.

Nevertheless, they will not be content with being also-rans after a 2023/24 season in which they finished a club-high third in the Premiership, while also clinching their maiden major trophy. DM

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Africa

Second time’s the charm

Patchy performances

Eyes on the prize

Stellies rise