Online Reporter
DIVINE Lunga could be headed for the biggest pay cheque of his career.
The leftback became the third Zimbabwean footballer to win the CAF Champions League after Mamelodi Sundowns beat AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in Morocco on Sunday. Lunga started the match and was penalised for a foul in the penalty box, which helped the Moroccans score from the spot and tie the game.
The penalty was given after a video review. Instead of dropping his head, Lunga fought back and played his part in the 1-1 draw, and 2-1 aggregate win for the Brazilians. The hosts missed a penalty in the second half.
Teboho Mokoena scored the priceless goal for the South African champions.
It means the players could be up for a big pay cheque in terms of bonuses.
Their success on Sunday could ultimately be worth up to US$20 million.
Winning the marquee African club competition a second time earned Sundowns a record first prize of US$6m – up 50 per cent from last season.
Sundowns now face USM Alger of Algeria, winners of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, in a one-off CAF Super Cup match worth US$500 000 to the winners. The match has been scheduled for October 31, most probably at Loftus Versfeld, a 50 000-seat Pretoria stadium Sundowns share with the Bulls rugby team.
Being crowned African champions a second time, after defeating Egyptian outfit Zamalek 10 years ago, qualifies Sundowns for the 2029 Club World Cup, possibly in Morocco.
Sundowns pocketed US$12.5m from competing in the first edition last year in the United States, although they were eliminated after the group phase.
There was US$9.5m for qualifying, US$2m for beating Ulsan of South Korea and US$1m for drawing with Fluminense of Brazil. A loss to Borussia Dortmund of Germany cost Sundowns a last-16 slot.
Sundowns have a history of paying their players huge bonuses when they win silverware and Lunga and his teammates could be in for a big windfall. – Sports Reporter/SuperSport
