Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela has opened up on the hidden psychological traps awaiting the club following their historic CAF Champions League triumph in Rabat, warning that continental glory brings its own unique dangers.
By overcoming AS FAR Rabat over two legs, the Brazilians were crowned African champions for the second time, writing their names in history as the first South African team to secure two Champions League titles. The triumph also ended a decade-long drought for the coveted trophy, easing the intense pressure that had steadily mounted on Chloorkop to conquer the continent once again.
After first clinching the Champions League title in 2016, Sundowns endured agony in the following years in their bid to reclaim this tournament’s bragging rights. They were mostly being eliminated in the knockouts.
Rulani Mokwena masterminded a semi-final run in the 2023/24 campaign before Miguel Cardoso arrived, steering the club to a final defeat against Pyramids FC. Undeterred by that near-miss, the Portuguese mentor immediately anchored Masandawana’s charge back to the continental showpiece the following season.
They finally struck the right note after edging AS FAR 1-0 in Tshwane before forcing a 1-1 draw away to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory most recently. Komphela explains how losing to Pyramids in the final ignited the desire to get it right last term.
THE TURNING POINT IN MAMELODI SUNDOWNS’ CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE BID
Despite going winless in four group-stage games at one point and facing early elimination, Sundowns went on to reach the final and claim the Champions League title.
“I felt these guys deserved it. The hunt and the chase for this second star has been on and on, and it was even ignited by the miss last season,” said Komphela on the Mamelodi Sundowns Pitchside Podcast.
“Pyramids messed us up, but it was for the good. Benefit of hindsight, had we not been messed up by Pyramids [Sundowns might not have won the Champions League]. Let’s say we win, could we have made it for the third time? “Maybe not. Because even success has its own dark side. In success, there are blessings and baddings. Now, you need to have your own analysis in terms of the threats from success.
“I’ll quickly check on what I mean about the threats after success. The minute you hit that level of success, there is exposure of your players to many people who may be interested. That’s a threat.
“Then the minute they achieve that much, some will think ‘I have arrived’. That’s a threat. So, you always have to bring the element that there is a threat in this success. Identify the threat so that you can nullify and deal with it in advance.
“Don’t relax and stay there in the sun because you think you are successful. There is danger in success, there are threats in success.”
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