The weight of the nation’s expectation has been lifted from the shoulders of perennial continental overachievers Orlando Pirates and placed squarely on those of Mamelodi Sundowns’ "Dream Team". Success in Africa for South African clubs has the tendency of precipitating success for the national team, as was the case when Pirates won the CAF Champions League in 1995 and Bafana Bafana lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. Sundowns have a chance to wipe aside years of continental sluggishness after 1995 by South African clubs in continental competitions if they beat Egyptian club Zamalek over two legs in the final that begins in Atteridgeville on Saturday and ends in Cairo a week later. Pirates carried the torch in recent years by reaching back-to-back Champions League and Confederation Cup finals — losing to North Africans Al Ahly and Etoile du Sahel — but the Brazilians have drawn inspiration from their endeavours. Downs now have a chance to create their own history and add a star...
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