Mamelodi Sundowns could make as much as a R10 million profit should they win the Caf Champions League by beating Zamalek in the final‚ and snatch the R20 million prize money for the champions. Should they lose in the final and finish as runners-up‚ winning just over R14 million‚ their profit margin will be about R4 million.How much the club actually benefited financially would depend on how much owner Patrice Motsepe – previously famously generous in dishing out prize money to his players – decided to hand out to the members of Downs’ squad.Sundowns meet Zamalek in the first leg of this year’s final at Lucas Moripe Stadium (3pm)‚ and travel to Egypt to play the second leg in Alexandria on Sunday‚ October 23.The official prize money for winning the 2016 Caf Champions League is $1‚5 million (R21 million). For second place it is $1 million (R14‚3 million).Roger de Sa warns Sundowns – beware ZamalekRoger de Sa has warned Mamelodi Sundowns not to think that because they have beaten Zamalek twice already in this year’s African Champions League‚ Downs are going to be able to easily romp through the two legs of the final. Based on costs revealed by Orlando Pirates a run to a continental final costs in total from R8million to R9 million.Pirates revealed that their cost of reaching the 2013 Champions League final‚ where they lost 3-1 on aggregate to Egyptian club Al Ahly‚ was in the region of R9 million.When they reached least year’s Confederation Cup final‚ losing 2-1 on aggregate to Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel‚ Bucs’s costs were around R8 million.This broke down to around R3‚5 million spent on airfares (around R560 000 per away match trip)‚ and R2 million on hotels.The final itself provides an added expense in that the numerous Caf (Confederation of African Football) officials travelling to the match have to be accommodated in VIP hotels and their expenses paid. Downs’ expenses in reaching this year’s Champions League final might rise above R10 million should the club decide to fly and accommodate a decent number of their supporters to the second leg in Egypt.Of the $1‚5 million Sundowns could win as champions‚ $75 000 would automatically be paid out to the SA Football Association in terms of the competition rules‚ making for a nice R1 million windfall to Safa on the back of Downs’ exploits.The R21 million first prize is more than double the R10 million Sundowns won being crowned 2015-16 Premier Soccer League champions in May.And winning the Champions League has further financial spinoffs‚ as it gurantees entry into Fifa’s Club World Cup (CWC)‚ this year to be staged in Osaka and Yokahama in Japan in December. A seventh-placed finish at the CWC guarantees prize money of $500 000 (R7 million). Winners receive $5 million (R70 million)‚ runners-up $4 million (R57 million)‚ third-placed finishers $2‚5 million (R35 million)‚ fourth place $2 million (R28 million)‚ fifth $1‚5 million (R21 million) and sixth place $1 million (R14 million).The there are the unquantifiable financial benefits of the boost to Downs' global brand. Already there are plans in the pipeline for the Pretoria glamour club to take part in Arsenal's high profile Emirates Cup pre-season tournament in the near future.- TMG Digital ..