Amidst the heavy criticism on the expanded FIFA Club World, Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela has given million dollar reasons why the tournament is important for Africa.
The FIFA Club World calendar was normally during the season and it included only seven teams, the winners of the Champions League in seven continents plus the host country each year.
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And so it did not attract much interest, especially with fans and everyone involved in the game occupied with leagues around the world going on.
However, with 32 clubs involved in the Club World Cup for the first time, the tournament has been criticized, even though it will be played in four-year cycles, for it's schedule, after long seasons, particularly for European clubs, as players would have no enough rest.
The looming FIFA World Cup proper next winter has added to the criticism, that player welfare has not been considered with the current format and calendar of the global tournament.
However, after Sundowns banked a total of $12,55 million (R224 million) from the tournament, Komphela has argued why Europeans are the most critical of the competition.
"In many ways, for African teams, South Americans, it's of great benefit financially and also in terms of the growth of the game, that teams from Asia, South America, Africa, go on and compete with these top teams," Komphela said on 947's MSW.
"Europe is a dominant continent when it comes to football and by virtue of their dominance, they will try their utmost best to protect their interests and naturally so. This why sometimes, when you try to say, okay, if you put burdens on my shoulders, how can I turn those burdens into blessings?
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"If you say a figure of 200 million US dollars given to an African team and 200 million dollars given to a European team, just by virtue of currency and conversion, the Europeans won't feel the injection massively. But for teams whose currencies are slightly lower, they'll definitely feel the benefit," the former Kaizer Chiefs coach added.
Al Ahly and Esperance each received a total of $11, 55 million (R206 million) while Wydad Casablanca had a pay out of $9,55 million (R170 million), according to a compilation by NBC Sports, following the African teams' elimination in the group stages.
