SuperSport United’s ability to be a feeder team for Mamelodi Sundowns has mostly paid off, as the playing personnel graduate from being boys to men.
SuperSport were the first team to win the Premiership for three successive seasons in the PSL era during the reign of coach Gavin Hunt.
But after selling most of their depth to cross-town rivals Sundowns, there’s been a power shift in domestic football as the latter dominated in the league.
The Brazilians, with the help of former SuperSport players, recently won a record-extending eighth championship in a row via the Premiership this season.
Now that they are eyeing their second African crown in the CAF Champions League this season, they could be helped by the former players of their arch-rivals.
Aubrey Modiba, Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Grant Kekana were inexperienced when they lost the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup final with SuperSport to TP Mazembe.
But fast-forward to eight years later, the quartet have grown in leaps and bounds as they’ve become fully-fledged players for Sundowns and Bafana Bafana.
Masandawana, as such, will heavily rely on them to guide the club to the continental title when they face Pyramids FC in the showdown over the two-legged contest.
Speaking during Sundowns’ media event at Chloorkop on Wednesday ahead of the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (3pm kick-off), Modiba admitted that they want to make up for lost time.
“It would be great for us, because we really want to do well at this club and win trophies,” Modiba said.
“The last one (continental final) I played with SuperSport was our first one, and I didn’t have much experience, actually. We saw how we fell short in that game.
“But right now, having played so many Champions League games at Sundowns, we understand what it takes to reach the final and try and win it.
“It’s been eluding us for so many years, but right now, we are on the right track. We just have to do well on both legs – firstly at home.”
The former SuperSport quartet won’t do it in isolation, though.
They have already received first-hand advice from the two surviving members of the class of 2016.
Themba Zwane and Denis Onyango were part of the squad that beat Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate in the continental showdown over the two legs.
“I think what really helped us as the players that joined in recent years is that the guys that won it explained how important it is to win this competition,” Modiba added.
“When we arrived here, we had that mentality, and were be able to say that we need to do well in the competition because of the previous group.
“It hasn’t happened, but we have been knocking and flirting with it.
“Finally, we are in the final, so we want to rekindle the joy of 2016.
“We could see the celebrations all around the country – the fans were happy, and everyone around the club.
“We want to bring back that energy and positivity. So yeah, hopefully we will be able to bring back the smiles into the faces of our fans.”
Sundowns are all but tipped to do that: become the first South African club to win the African crown twice, having been level on a title apiece with Orlando Pirates.
But despite the growth of the squad and influx of information, Modiba and Co know that won’t be easy, especially against an evolving Pyramids outfit.
“They have signed quite a few players from the team that we played,” said Modiba, with Sundowns having drawn with Pyramids before beating them in the group stage in 2023.
“I think now, they’ve probably gained more experience in the Champions League, hence they are in the final.
“They are even number two in their league (in Egypt), competing with Al Ahly.
“So, I think they have evolved and are doing well. They’ve gained experience in the Champions League – that’s why they are in the final.
“It’s a different team, different coach and approach from the team that we played. They are doing well.”
