WeeklySA_AdminFIFA CLUB WORLD CUP: Only a few of Mamelodi Sundowns supporters will be able to afford plane tickets to the USA unless…
By Ali Mphaki
1986 was a great year. The song of the year was “We Are the World” by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. Another popular song booming the airwaves was “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne and Friends.
BMW SA introduced its sought-after 333i and the 325i Shadowline, while Opel unleashead the Kadett Boss and Superboss models. The perm was the hairstyle in vogue, brand of choice Sta Sof Fro and Herman Mashaba’s Black Like Me.
On TV soccer commentary was dished by the vintage Dan ‘Oom Dan’ Setshedi, Dumile Mateza with his isiXhosa twang (both deceased), and the velvety baritone-voiced Zama Masondo.
Making waves in both the soccer and the social scene was one Zola Mahobe, the 31-year-old having bought the Pretoria outfit a year earlier in 1985.
The flamboyant Mahobe who was also known as Mr Cool, immediately worked his charm to inspire the club to the second division league and earn a promotion to the first division.
With Mr Cool in control and working his magic the club rose to glory going on to claim its first major cup, Mainstay Cup, since it’s return to top flight by beating Jomo Cosmos 1-0. Sundowns had turned red hot by 1987 and had won BP Top Eight, JPS Cup and the Castle League Championships.
The latter success was attributed to Mahobe who was dripping cash following the fraudulent escapades he mastered with his girlfriend, Snowy Moshoeshoe. It was in May 1986 when Mahobe did the unthinkable. He took all Sundowns players and their partners to an all-expenses paid trip to the FA Cup Final in London. He paid top dollar to acquire talented players and rewarded them with expensive gifts including BMWs.
Its history that the arrest of Mahobe in 1988 spelled a mini disaster for the high flying Sundowns. Standard Bank, which was at the receiving end of the Mahobe/Moshoeshoe heist, took ownership of Sundown in 1988.
Bought by the Krok Brothers until current owner Patrice Motsepe took over in 2012. Fast forward to 2025 Sundowns are on the brink of a historic payday as they prepare to participate in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in June.
The club has secured a staggering USD50 million (approximately R900 million) participation fee which underscores FIFA’s commitment to rewarding excellence in global football and provides Sundowns with a financial windfall that could elevate the club to new heights.
This funding will likely support infrastructure, player development, and further investment in maintaining the club’s dominance domestically and internationally.
No doubt the Yellow Nation in its huge num-bers hanker to be in the US to cheer on their charges come June, an exercise which may prove too costly for many. A cheap return flight ticket to the US can easily reach about R20 000 and what with tickets for the games at a starting price of $36 (about R668 for club supporters) and $50, about R928,40 for the general public). This minus accommodation, food and trans-port.
The Sundowns head honchos have been playing their cards close to the chest regards their supporters joining in their sojourn to that land of unending fires, but some well-placed sources within the club have hinted the young Motsepe is toying with the idea of sponsoring at least a 100 fans (all expenses paid for trip) to the Fifa Club world Cup. The ball, as they say, is in Motsepe’s feet.
