TotalEnergies CAF Champions League: Zwane’s promise to family and community
As Mamelodi Sundowns go in hunt for their second TotalEnergies CAF Champions League crown, their much-loved captain Themba Zwane will be chasing immortality.
The Brazilians won their first TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title 10 years ago. Zwane was 26 at the time, slowly building his reputation as the club’s most-loved son. A decade later, the skillful midfielder is a leader in the team, and on the verge of something greater.
A Sundowns victory over AS FAR on Sunday will make him the first South African player playing in the South African league to win the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League twice. His former teammate Percy Tau won it more than once, but the other medals came at Al Ahly in Egypt.
Zwane is also chasing history in his hometown of Tembisa, an area filled with incredible football heritage, culture and unforgettable legends.
One of those legends is Jerry Skhosana, a deadly striker who scored the winner for Orlando Pirates when they beat ASEC Mimosas in 1995 to become the first South African side to be crowned African champions.
Growing up in Tembisa, matching or even eclipsing Skhosana’s achievements was seen as impossible. Zwane disagreed.
Speaking to CAFOnline, the Bafana Bafana star shared how he always told his father that he believed he could be the first player from Tembisa to win the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League more than once, and he is now close to this feat.
“I made a promise to my family that I will win the CAF Champions League. In my community where I come from (Tembisa), there is someone who won the Champions League first (Jerry Skhosana with Orlando Pirates),” Zwane said.
“All these years I have been conversations with my father that I will win two Champions League trophies, or more. This is the opportunity to fulfil the promise to my family and to my father. I must make use of this opportunity,” the 36-year-old told CAFOnline.
Standing in the way of Zwane’s certain legendary status is AS FAR, who trail Sundowns 1-0 after the first leg in Pretoria last week.
The match will take place on Sunday at 19h00 GMT.