Cape Town - The Premier Soccer Leagues has thrown its weight behind African club champions, Mamelodi Sundowns as they depart today to join other continental club champions in Japan in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Mamelodi Sundowns are the first South African side to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup. They will play their first match this week against the winner of the match between Japanese J-League winners, Kashima Antlers and Auckland City.
The League has joined the rest of Africa in wishing the South African domestic champions luck in Japan.
PSL acting Chief Executive, Mato Madlala said: "There is a lot of significance in the journey Mamelodi Sundowns is embarking on. It is a special moment for Southern Africa and of course our League.
The participation in the FIFA Club World Cup will undoubtedly bring South African domestic professional football into the spotlight. We trust that Mamelodi Sundowns will represent us well and replicate the form that saw them win the CAF Champions League trophy.
On behalf of all the members of the National Soccer League, we would like to wish Mamelodi Sundowns the best of luck."
Mosimane's men face an uphill battle to be the first African winners of the competition with Corinthians of Brazil, being the last non-European team to lift the cup in 2012.
Real Madrid who are the current European champions are the outright favourites with their Spanish rivals being the most successful club in the competition having won the tournament three times.