Multitudes of football fans descended at OR Tambo Airport on Wednesday, 26 October 2016 to welcome African club Champions Mamelodi Sundowns from Egypt.

Multitudes of football fans descended at OR Tambo Airport on Wednesday, 26 October 2016 to welcome African club Champions Mamelodi Sundowns from Egypt.

In an exceptional show of support, fans from most Premier Soccer League clubs gathered at OR Tambo to get a glimpse of their heroes who arrived in true Sundowns style led by coach Pitso Mosimane.

Among the top dignitaries who came to pay homage to the African club champions were Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan, PSL Chair Dr Irvin Khoza and Sundowns President Patrice Motsepe.

Also in attendance were Gauteng Premier David Makhura, Tshwane Executive Mayor, Solly Msimang, Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba and several football representatives and sponsors.

Fans started gathering as early as 05h00 and by 07h00, the entire OR Tambo Airport precinct was drowned into a sea of yellow.

Coach Mosimane and his entourage arrived to rapturous welcome from thousands of fans who braved the scorching heat.

Dr Khoza praised Mosimane for being the first South African born mentor to achieve what had eluded most local and foreign-born coaches.

SAFA President Dr Jordaan said Sundowns had made South Africa proud and that they must now go on and conquer the world when they compete in the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for Japan in December.

Minister Mbalula urged other clubs to emulate the achievements of Sundowns and spoke about how critical it was for other clubs to take African expedition seriously.

In acknowledging the praises, Mosimane thanked everyone who had come to welcome the team including the football leadership.

Club President, Patrice Motsepe had the honour of thanking those who had played a key role in the clubs’ feat adding for any success there has to be painful sacrifices.