BACK BUCS AGAINST BERKANE

SOUTH Africa’s football image has taken a battering on the international stage over the past two decades due to less than impressive showings by the national team, Bafana Bafana.

No doubt, the increase in numbers of South Africans plying their trade with the top teams in big competitive European leagues has contributed to this decline.

Even more worrying has been Bafana’s consistent failure to do well on the continent, and that has been attributed to the fact that Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams have historically seen African club competitions as a burden, rather than a chance to grow at competing internationally.

Lately, however, there is a sense that PSL teams are making a serious impact in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup – the two premier club tournaments on the continent.

Since winning the Champions League in 2016, Mamelodi Sundowns have been a consistent presence on this stage, and are regularly counted among the title contenders.

The trendsetters were Orlando Pirates, who lifted the Cup in 1996. Chiefs followed with the Confed Cup in 2001. Last season, Amakhosi surprised many by fighting all the way to the final, where they were defeated by African Club of the Century, Al Ahly.

Chiefs were once notorious for their lack of enthusiasm when they qualified for continental competitions, even though their brand has a strong appeal beyond the country’s borders.

This season Sundowns were strong favourites before they stumbled in the semi-finals against the same serial winners, Al Ahly of Egypt. Despite blowing hot and cold on the domestic front, Pirates have negotiated their way to the final of the Confed Cup, and they meet former champions Renaissance Berkane of Morocco tonight.

It is a massive improvement that our clubs are beginning to fight all the way to the late stages of the continental club competition. The current Al Ahly coach, South Africa’s Pitso Mosimane, has always advocated for PSL players to take an interest in these tournaments if they want to improve and make an impact on the national team.

So, tonight when Pirates square up against RS Berkane in Nigeria, we must all be united behind them to bring back the gold medals that will push local football to another level.