Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane has expressed delight at becoming the first-ever South African player to win two CAF Champions League titles.
This comes after The Brazilians beat Moroccan outfit AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in the final over the weekend to secure their second continental title, a decade after their maiden triumph.
Zwane, as a result, surpassed Orlando Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana to become the player with the most Champions League crowns in his native country, as the pair was tied on one each.
Reflecting on his personal milestone, the Downs skipper says his main objective was to set his own record, thanking everyone at Chloorkop for helping him achieve the feat.
“I feel happy, as some of you know that where I come from in Tembisa there’s someone that won the Champions League before. So, my aim was to set my own standard and be a good example to the young ones,” Zwane said.
“And thanks to my teammates, thanks to my chairman, the coach, thanks for the opportunity that they gave me.
Having been part of Sundowns’ squad that won the first Champions League trophy, Zwane refused to be drawn into comparisons when pressed on which team had better quality of players.
“For me, to be honest, I think both teams have quality, both teams have hunger, and the aggression and the support that they give to one another,” the veteran playmaker added.
“I couldn’t sit and compare them, but for me it’s just to give credit to both groups for the hard work and the dedication.
Zwane will now shift his focus to the much-awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup as he’s expected to be named in Hugo Broos’ final 26-man squad for the global showpiece.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
