ON THE MARK: A year bursting with potential for South African football

A new year is upon us and one of potentially much excitement, highlighted by the first large-scale Club World Cup where South Africa will be represented.

Mamelodi Sundowns are one of the four African clubs in the field for the expanded 32-team tournament in the United States, which has come under much criticism in Europe but is much anticipated elsewhere. It will likely turn into a keenly contested affair and find a ready audience in the mid-year gap between the league seasons.

Sundowns, unfortunately, did not get a glamour draw, missing out on the chance to play against Real Madrid or Manchester City, but will be underdogs against Fluminense of Brazil and Borussia Dortmund, last season’s Champions League runners-up, in their group. They also play Ulsan from Korea in a good test of where their international pedigree is.

🏆 The all new FIFA Club World Cup. June – July 2025! 🇺🇸 Let’s Go Masandawana! 👆 #Sundowns #RoadTo25 #FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/qLVg3VAfur

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 16, 2024

Domestically we look longingly at the potential of a competitive, and exciting, league campaign after years of Sundowns marching to their own beat with the rest of the pack well out of step.

Now Orlando Pirates are offering the hope that they might push Sundowns all the way and give us an exciting finish to the league not seen since Sundowns edged Kaizer Chiefs to the title on their last day of the Covid-delayed 2019-20 season.

Pirates and Sundowns will also be hoping to extend their African Champions League campaign as far as they can. Sundowns are battling in the group phase, but Pirates are well positioned and on the cusp of a quarterfinal place … as are Stellenbosch in the African Confederation Cup.

BUMPER YEAR FOR BAFANA

It is also a busy year for Bafana Bafana as World Cup qualification concludes this year and then just before Christmas, they head to the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

South Africa will know their group rivals for the tournament in Morocco later this month when the draw is conducted in Rabat, just short of 11 months before the tournament kicks off. South Africa will be in pot two meaning they will draw one of the top eight-ranked teams in their group.

In March they resume the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup with an excellent chance of finishing top in their group and grabbing a berth at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

It would be a major fillip for the game in the country where that to prove the case. This new year promises much. Now we wait to see about delivery. I have a good feeling about it all.