SuperSport United will become the latest South African side to shoot for continental glory when they take on DR Congo's TP Mazembe in the first leg of their African Confederation Cup final in Lubumbashi on Sunday.
Once seen as an expensive burden by South African clubs, there has been a resurgence in interest in competing on the continent in recent years, and the country has produced four finalists in African club competitions in the past five years.
Only DR Congo, through Mazembe and AS Vita Club, can boast more finalists over the same period (5), but it shows that despite the troubles of the senior national team, South African clubs are at the top of the game on the African continent.
In all, SuperSport are the fourth South African team to reach a continental decider, with the country's success rate in their six previous deciders at exactly 50 percent.
KweséESPN looks back at South Africa's record down the years.
1995 African Champions Cup -- Orlando Pirates
South Africa were still relatively new to continental club competitions, having debuted in 1993, but found near instant success through Orlando Pirates' unlikely triumph in the Champions Cup, the fore-runner to the Champions League.
There were no group stages in those days, only knockout rounds, and having come through four of those in what was their debut campaign in the competition, The Buccaneers faced ASEC Abidjan in the final.
They looked pretty much dead and buried after a 2-2 draw in the home leg that saw the exit of coach Joe Frickleton, who was replaced by his assistant Ronald Mkandawire for the visit to west Africa.
Nobody gave them much of a chance away from home, but after weathering severe pressure, Pirates took the lead through Jerry Sikhosana and were able to hold on for a famous win that took some 21 years to repeat.
2001 African Cup Winners' Cup -- Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs may be the most successful and heralded club in South Africa, but they have found continental football little to their liking down the years.
One of the exceptions was in the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup during what became known as their 'Vat Alles' (roughly translated as 'win everything') season, as the competition became one of three trophies they claimed that year.
Chiefs found themselves up against tricky Angolan side InterClube in the final and their success could be something of a blue-print for SuperSport this year. They managed a 1-1 draw in Luanda, holding the home side and grabbing a precious away goal which gave them a small safety net for the home leg.
They did not need it though as Patrick Mabedi scored a late winner from the penalty-spot in a 1-0 success that saw Chiefs champions under coach Muhsin Ertugral with a 2-1 aggregate win.
2001 African Champions League -- Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns' first final in the elite African club competition ended in disappointment as they lost to Egyptian giants Al Ahly 4-1 on aggregate, despite having the better run of play in the two-legged decider.
Crucially they were held to a 1-1 draw in the home leg, which put them on the back foot as they had to travel to the cauldron that is the Cairo International Stadium.
They lost 3-0, but might still be wondering how, as they twice struck the woodwork to be denied an away goal that would have changed the entire complexion of the tie. But ultimately a hat-trick from Khaled Bebo, the first a penalty, sealed The Brazilians' fate.
2013 African Champions League -- Orlando Pirates
A long 12 years after the first time, a South African team made a continental final and it was a return to the big stage for Pirates as they were the latest to test Al Ahly.
They came up short in what was a tight final, but one always felt the Egyptians had control over the two legs. A 1-1 draw in Soweto gave them the initiative and they fairly coasted to a 2-0 success in Arab Contractors Stadium in Cairo.
The campaign ended in defeat for Pirates, but it had captured the imagination of South African football fans, and suddenly there was a newfound hunger to compete on the continent for many teams.
2015 African Confederation Cup -- Orlando Pirates
Pirates were back in a final within two years, this time in the Confederation Cup, but it would again end in disappointment.
They lined up against Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel and it was a similar story to their decider against Ahly, as they were held to a 1-1 draw and failed to take the advantage into the away leg.
The safety of that away goal allowed the Tunisians to play with some freedom at home and they secured a 1-0 win, with Pirates unable to break down their defensive wall.
2016 African Champions League -- Mamelodi Sundowns
After their disappointment 15 years earlier, Sundowns finally realised their dream of becoming Kings of Africa and were fully deserved winners of the trophy.
Their victory was set up by a superb home display in which they defeated Egyptian side Zamalek 3-0, with all the goals coming in a pulsating first 50 minutes in which they tore their visitors to shreds.
It meant the return leg at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria turned into a holding job and although they lost 1-0, it was very much job done for the side as they took the 3-1 aggregate win.