Downs’ African dream lives

Pretorians can look forward to the first ever CAF final in the city when Mamelodi Sundowns host Zamalek in three weeks’ time.

The Brazilians produced a masterpiece performance to beat Zesco United 3-2 over two legs in the semifinal on Saturday evening.

This would be the second time in three years that a South African team had reached the final of the champion’s league after Orlando Pirates in 2013 in a losing effort against Egyptian giant, Al Ahly.

Ironically, Downs will face another Egyptian giant.

The Pretoria side were eliminated by AS Vita in the knockout rounds before the group stages, but were given a second life after Vita were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

And did Mosimane take advantage.

They topped their group in the round robin stage and to reach the final for the second time in their history.

Many have regarded the 2001 Sundowns team as the best ever even though they lost in that final but if this golden generation can outclass Zamalek, they would eclipse the class of 2001.

Beating Zamalek would make the Tshwane side only the second local team to win the competition, again behind Pirates who did it in 1995.

The big prize Downs would eye though would be would be an opportunity to play at this year’s Fifa Club World Cup against the likes of European giants Real Madrid.

The Brazilians will take heart from having beaten Zamalek in the group stages of the competition but in the meantime, they have to negotiate the not so small matter of an MTN8 final against Bidvest Wits at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday at 17:00.

Wits will come into this game hoping to preserve an unbeaten start to the season.

Bafana ba Style will eagerly await to make their 2nd CAF CL Final appearance but for now all attention will have shifted to the MTN8 Final. pic.twitter.com/RcISIiygeS

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) September 25, 2016