IMAMELODI Sundowns inegcindezi yokuqeda ishobolo leminyaka lokubhajwa kuma-quarterfinal eCaf Champions League kusukela yawina lo mqhudelwano ngo-2016.
ISundowns akubuzwa ukuthi ngelinye lamaqembu athwelwe ngeqoma ukuthi azoyiwina iChampions League kule sizini kulandela ukugila izimanga ngesikhathi idla i-African Football League (AFL) ebibophele izinkunzi zase-Afrika zodwa ekupheleni konyaka odlule.
AmaBrazilians azogadulisana neYoung Africans emdlalweni womlenze wokuqala wama-quarterfinal eChampions League ozoba ngoMgqibelo ngo-8 ebusuku eBenjamin Mkapa National Stadium, eTanzania. Owomlenze wesibili uzoba ngo-Ephreli 5 eLoftus Versfeld Stadium, ePitoli.
Ngaphandle kokuthi iSundowns kubhekwe ukuthi iqhubeke nokukhonya okubonakale kwi-AFL, umqeqeshi wayo, uRhulani Mokwena, unengcindezi yokufaka leli qembu kowamanqamu okuyinto engakaze iyenze kusukela yawina le ndebe ngo-2016 isaqeqeshwa nguPitso Mosimane.
Kusukela ngo-2017, iSundowns isiphume kuma-quarterfinal amahlandla amane. Kwenzeke lokhu kathathu phakathi kuka-2020 no-2022. Ngo-2019, yaphuma kowandulela owamanqamu nanyakenye okuwu-2023 lapho ikhishwe khona yi-Al Ahly yase-Egypt.
Emuva kweminyaka emibili iwine indebe, iSundowns yaphuma esigabeni samaqoqo kwiChampions League. Isigaba sama-quarterfinal sikhombisa ukuba wumgoqo njalo endleleni yaleli qembu ebheke ekuwineni iChampions League okwesibili.
Nakuba iSundowns kulindeleke ukuthi ithwale kanzima kwiYanga kodwa makhulu amathuba okudlulela kweyandulela owamanqamu ngenya yesipiliyoni enaso.
La maqembu ayaqala ukubhekana kwiChampions League. IYoung Africans iyaqala ukufinyelela kuma-quarterfinal eChampions League. Ibanga elide elihambile eminyakeni edlule, wukufika esigabeni samaqoqo ngo-1998. Yihlandla lika-13 idlala kulo mqhudelwano.
Akubuzwa ukuthi ukudlala neSundowns kuzolifaka umfutho leli qembu elikhombisa okukhulu ukudlondlobala ebholeni lase-Afrika kwazise ihlulwe kowamanqamu weCaf Confederation Cup nyakenye.
Sekuvelile ukuthi abadlali bathenjiswe amabhonasi amakhulu uma bengadlulela kowandulela owamanqamu. IYanga ishaya ngomdlali waseMzansi, uMahlatsi Makudubela, owayedlala enkulisa yeSundowns eminyakeni edlule ngaphambi kokudlalela amanye amaqembu okubalwa kuwona i-Orlando Pirates, Lamontville Golden Arrows neMarumo Gallants.
Ukuqukula indebe yeChampions League kukaMokwena, kungenzeka kuyiqede impikiswano yokuthi lo mqeqeshi akekho ezingeni lokuyibeka esicongweni e-Afrika. Nokho indlela yakhe idlula kwiYanga okwamanje.