Mamelodi Sundowns are still on target this season to complete a domestic league and cup double, to go with the inaugural Caf African Football League trophy that they have sitting in the cabinet back in Choorklop.
To any other club in South Africa, this would be a ridiculously good season, and one that no one in their right mind could look critically on.
And yet . Friday nights Caf Champions League semifinal exit at the hands of Esperance will no doubt have critics baiting a side that make no secret of their chase for a second star. Sundowns will probably also have plenty of regrets that they could not add this season to their one Champions League title up to now.
Masandawana had their fair share of chances at Loftus Stadium, before and after the epic storm that delayed the match by over an hour. But once they fell behind, there was a sense of the inevitable, with the three goals required just too much of a deficit.
The simple fact is that Sundowns have fallen off their usual standards in the last few weeks, if you look at their performances. The quarterfinal win against Yanga was unconvincing and could easily have gone the other way. There was a near-shock in the Nedbank Cup against Tuks.
Even in the DStv Premiership, Sundowns remain unbeaten but have not been at their scintillating best.
Too much footballBut why would they be? The core of Sundowns squad have played so much football it is a wonder they are still on their feet. The African Football League added more games into an already packed club schedule, while Sundowns players also made up most of the Bafana Bafana squad that won a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
It would be a miracle, frankly, if Sundowns were still firing on all cylinders, even with the strength of their squad. Rulani Mokwenas side have, if anything, paid the price for being so good. They may have fallen again at the semifinal hurdle in the Champions League.
But few would bet against them being there again next season, flying the South African flag high. So for Sundowns, we should really have nothing but praise. They are simply victims of their own success.
And Sundowns players and coach, too, should not be too downhearted. They will simply go again, and if they keep knocking on the door, one day they will break it down.
