I hope I'm proven wrong, but I get the impression that Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United got exactly what they wanted when they were dumped out of the CAF Confederation Cup on Wednesday before the gruelling group stages.
Both lost on the away goals rule, Wits to Enyimba of Nigeria and SuperSport to Kenya's Gor Mahia, and I very much doubt there were any tears shed at the results.
Wits picked a much-changed side for their clash, with only three players that started what they saw as a vital league game against Ajax Cape Town seven days previously. There were no untested youngsters, in fact a lot of experience, but it was a weakened team, no matter what the club might argue. Despite this, it probably should have had enough quality to beat Enyimba, even away from home, so the question as to why they did not is a compelling one.
SuperSport likewise had only two players in their side against Gor Mahia from the one that played in their last league game, though coach Kaitano Tembo had warned previously that he would make a raft of changes with the side in a perilous position at the foot of the table, opting to play youngsters instead of seasoned campaigners. They still won the game 2-1 but exit a competition they admitted earlier in the season they probably didn't want to be in. The problem for South African sides is that they are too spoiled at home, with a sizeable grant from the league and three lucrative knockout competitions to contest.
It's like when you are comfortable at home on the couch with your girlfriend and have all the food and drink you need, do you really want to go to the effort of missioning to the nightclub for what might or might not turn out to be a good time? It is a well-worn point that the expense and difficulties of travel make continental football a turn-off for some South African clubs. Unless you are on the big stage of the Champions League, it is not worth it for many.
SuperSport have blamed their current domestic woes on fatigue from their run to the Confederation Cup final last year, where they lost to DR Congo side TP Mazembe, and to be fair to them they do have three crucial league games coming up to save their top-flight status.
Wits probably would have walked past Enyimba with a full-strength side, but they are equally anxious to make the lucrative MTN8 next season and have no stomach for the Confederation Cup. Winning the Confederation Cup over 14 matches would pocket them around R15-million, but they would spend most of that on travel just making it to the final. Go through three rounds in the MTN8 and they will take home R8-million with virtually no net cost at all.
Win five games in the Nedbank Cup and take home R7-million, four games in the Telkom Knockout and you earn R4.25-million. All in the comforts of South Africa.
The Champions League does come with considerably more financial gain - R30-million for winning the trophy and as much as double that for competing at the FIFA Club World Cup. Wits did field a strong side in that competition earlier in the campaign, but were ousted on penalties by Angolan side Primeiro De Agosto.
Kaizer Chiefs have long felt that continental competition was an irritation, while Ajax Cape Town hilariously let in a late goal two years ago to be dumped out of the Confederation Cup when it was clear the financial burden of competing was weighing heavily on them.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have been left to fly the flag for the country on the continent and have done so with aplomb, with their attitude always one of eagerness to compete.
As the national association nominates which teams will compete in the CAF competitions, perhaps there needs to be a change of thinking. Those sides ranked highest should get first option of whether they want to compete and if they turn that opportunity down, it moves to the next team, and so on.
For clubs like Platinum Stars, Cape Town City and even Black Leopards, competing on the continent has been a thrilling experience and one they and others would jump at. Why not give them a shot, rather than forcing teams with little stomach for the fight into the fray?