Land of the Rising Sun beckons for Mosimane's swashbuckling Brazilians
Mamelodi Sundowns are tantalisingly close to African Champions League success and can be excused if they take a peak over the hill and look forward to participation in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December. No South African side has ever played in the annual competition‚ which FIFA first introduced in 2000.Sundowns could earn a tidy sum‚ estimated at a minimum of R5-million from participation plus have all their costs covered by world football’s governing body‚ including 35 business class return tickets for the squad to travel to Japan for the tournament.The draw for the tournament has already been made and Sundowns or Zamalek open their campaign in the quarter-final on December 11 against the winner of a play-off match between the Oceania champions and the local champions.Auckland City of New Zealand will meet the J-League winners in the opening game on December 8 in Yokohama.Kashima Antlers and Urawa Red Diamonds have already booked a place in the post-season play-off that will decide who wins the league in Japan.The African Champions League winner will be favoured to get past their opening game and into the semifinal in Osaka on December 14 where they will meet Atletico Nacional of Colombia‚ who are straight into the semifinals.Real Madrid of Spain are also into the semifinals where they meet either the champions of Asia or CONCACAF‚ which is Club America of Mexico.Asia’s representative is still to be decided.The final of the Club World Cup is on December 18 in Yokohama but if the African Champions League winners are eliminated in either the quarters or semifinal‚ they will still play one more play-off match.In 2010‚ TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo became the first team to break the European-South American duopoly of the event by reaching the final‚ where Samuel Eto’o and his Inter Milan team then beat them.Three years ago Raja Casablanca of Morocco got to the final on home soil where they lost to Bayern Munich. Last year’s Club World Cup was also hosted in Japan and won by Barcelona‚ who beat Argentina’s River Plate 3-0 in the final. - TMG Digital..
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.