{"id":3712,"date":"2025-04-26T09:38:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T07:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=3712"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:41:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:41:06","slug":"gauteng-celebrates-mamelodi-sundowns-historic-caf-champions-league-final-berth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/gauteng-celebrates-mamelodi-sundowns-historic-caf-champions-league-final-berth\/","title":{"rendered":"Gauteng Celebrates Mamelodi Sundowns&#8217; Historic CAF Champions League Final Berth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lesufi-hails-the-club-as-pride-of-the-province-and-a-beacon-of-south-african-football\">Lesufi hails the club as pride of the province and a beacon of South African football<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gauteng Provincial Government, under the leadership of Premier Panyaza Lesufi, has extended a heartfelt congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club. They have secured a spot in the CAF Champions League Final. This is a momentous feat that has ignited pride, unity, and celebration across the province and the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This historic achievement is more than just a win on the football pitch\u2014it is a symbol of resilience, discipline, and the excellence that Gauteng continues to foster. As one of South Africa\u2019s most decorated football clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns&#8217; advancement to the final of Africa\u2019s most prestigious club competition is a powerful reminder of the talent, ambition, and spirit that define the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mamelodi-sundowns-unshaken-by-cairo-cauldron-says-coach-miguel-cardoso\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mamelodi Sundowns Unshaken by Cairo Cauldron, Says Coach Miguel Cardoso<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-triumph-for-mamelodi-sundowns-a-win-for-the-nation\">A Triumph for Mamelodi Sundowns, A Win for the Nation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Premier Lesufi lauded the club\u2019s journey to the final, saying, <em>\u201cWe are proud of Mamelodi Sundowns. Their journey to the final embodies the spirit of Gauteng \u2014 bold, ambitious, and determined to lead. They have inspired hope and unity in our communities<\/em>. <em>They have shown that South African clubs can stand tall among Africa\u2019s elite.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> Sundowns have consistently proven themselves to be ambassadors of South African football. Their path to the final has not only earned the admiration of fans across the continent but has also elevated the standard of football in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-orlando-pirates-also-saluted-for-flying-the-flag\">Orlando Pirates Also Saluted for Flying the Flag<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While Sundowns celebrate their place in the final, Premier Lesufi also recognized the valiant efforts of Orlando Pirates. \u201cTheir performance has been a source of immense pride and a reflection of the world-class football talent that Gauteng continues to produce,\u201d the Premier stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, these clubs underscore Gauteng\u2019s status as a football powerhouse. They are continually developing players and teams that are competitive on the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-football-as-a-tool-for-empowerment-and-growth\">Football as a Tool for Empowerment and Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gauteng Provincial Government reaffirmed its unwavering support for sports development. This highlights the role of football as a catalyst for youth empowerment, social cohesion, and economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Football in Gauteng is more than just a game\u2014it is a vehicle for transformation. It offers young people pathways out of poverty and into professional careers. The success of clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns is a testament to the effectiveness of grassroots development programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With initiatives focused on nurturing talent in schools, townships, and rural communities, the province is dedicated to ensuring that future generations have the resources and platforms to thrive in sport and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rallying-behind-mamelodi-sundowns\">Rallying Behind Mamelodi Sundowns <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As Mamelodi Sundowns prepare for what could be the most important match in their history, Premier Lesufi has called on all South Africans to rally behind the team. A victory for Sundowns in the CAF Champions League Final would not only crown them as continental kings but would also serve as a powerful message that South African football is on the rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s continue to rally behind Mamelodi Sundowns as they head into the final,\u201d Lesufi urged. \u201cA victory for them is a victory for us all and a reminder that Gauteng is indeed the home of Champions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mamelodi Sundowns\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/farpost.co.za\/2025\/04\/25\/last-gasp-goal-earns-sundowns-champions-league-final-berth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">journey to the CAF Champions League Final<\/a> is a story of perseverance, excellence, and unity. As the club prepares to take on Africa\u2019s best, they do so with the full support of Gauteng and South Africa behind them. This moment is not just about lifting a trophy\u2014it\u2019s about uplifting a nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesufi hails the club as pride of the province and a beacon of South African football The Gauteng Provincial Government, under the leadership of Premier Panyaza Lesufi, has extended a heartfelt congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club. They have secured a spot in the CAF Champions League Final. This is a momentous feat that has<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":3713,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Lesufi hails the club as pride of the province and a beacon of South African football The Gauteng Provincial Government, under the leadership of Premier...","footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[633,423],"class_list":{"0":"post-3712","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-caf-champions-league","9":"tag-gauteng-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3712"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3714,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3712\/revisions\/3714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}