Brave Warriors captain Peter Shalulile says leading Mamelodi Sundowns to the inaugural African Football League on Sunday was an “amazing” experience.
Shalulile scored the opener as South African champions Sundowns beat Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2-0 in the second leg of the final in Pretoria to seal a 3-2 aggregate landmark success.
That was the 29th goal he scored for Sundowns in cup competitions, making him the club’s outright top cup scorer in Premier Soccer League history.
“I’d like to thank God first. It’s a wonderful experience, good teammates, good team, and a good day. Thank you guys for this amazing cup,” Shalulile, who was a doubt for the historic clash due to persistent injury issues, said on Sunday.
The Namibian international was playing in only his first match of the competition having been out for five matches due to being injured.
He showed his worth as the Sundowns talisman in first-half stoppage time when he reacted quickest to clip home the loose ball after Wydad keeper Mehdi Maftah parried away Teboho Mokoena’s attempt.
He nearly scored a second three minutes into the second half after intercepting a back pass, but was thwarted by an alert Maftah.
Sundowns added a second goal seven minutes into the second half when Aubrey Modhiba stole possession before chipping the ball over the advancing Maftah.
Rhulani Mokwena was impressed with the overall performance of everyone associated with the club after securing his second trophy as the Brazilians’ head coach.
“As I always say the game belongs to the players. We see how much of a difference a half-fit Peter Shalulile makes, and a half-fit Lucas Ribeiro makes to this team,” the 36-year-old coach conceded.
Sundowns will be smiling all the way to the bank as they bagged a handsome US$4 million (about N$75 million), while the Moroccans will take home US$3 million (N$56 million).
“Congratulations to these amazing football players. I am very lucky to be their coach. Congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns, congratulations,” a delighted Mokwena said.
A super league for Africa was originally suggested by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who condemned similar efforts in Europe while saying it could transform the game in Africa.
He attended the match in Pretoria on Sunday, along with a capacity crowd who had been granted free entry.
After the game Infantino had a message for Masandawana’s coach.
“As I walked onto the stage, Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football and our former club president, congratulated me, and as I walked to the Fifa president, Mr Infantino, the first thing he said to me was ‘your team plays magnificent football’,” Mokwena said.
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