When Mamelodi Sundowns get going on Sunday, it will mark the start of a season that will officially start in Atteridgeville and end in USA – possibly sometime in July next year.
Sundowns host Polokwane City on Sunday afternoon (15:00) at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in the MTN8 quarterfinals.
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This will be their first official game of the 2024/25 season after closing off the heavy load from last season with the Nedbank Cup defeat to Orlando Pirates.
From Sunday, the champions will then negotiate their way through the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, African Football League, Carling Knockout and Nedbank Cup, before closing off with the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, due to run from June 15 to July 13.
The MTN8 could take them through four games if they reach the final like they did last season.
With the league, they have 30 games to play as they chase their eighth in a row, while the Champions League journey will have 14 matches should they achieve on their target of lifting the trophy.
The domestic business of the Carling Knockout and Nedbank Cup has a combined maximum of nine games to play.
Then the structure of the AFL – for which they are holders – will determine how many games they get to play and when.
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Once all of this is done and dusted, then there will be the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the USA for the expanded Club World Cup.
Real Madrid, Chelsea, Flamengo, River Plate, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Juventus and PSG will be amongst the clubs at that jamboree preceding the FIFA World Cup, which comes a year later.