Premier Soccer League chairman Irvin Khoza says he hopes that Mamelodi Sundowns can emulate Portugal’s unexpected Euro 2016 fairytale and win this year’s African Champions League title.

Sundowns reached the semifinals of the continental club competition after beating Egyptian powerhouses Zamalek 1-0 in a group match played in Atteridgeville on Wednesday night.

Portugal’s unexpected Euro triumph over heavily-fancied hosts France in the final early this month highlighted football’s unpredictable nature and Khoza said he hopes that Sundowns are able to create their own romance in the Champions League.

“If you watched what happened with Portugal at Euro‚ I think the same thing is unfolding with Sundowns‚” Khoza said.

“I wish they go all the way and win this one‚ especially for the coach Pitso Mosimane and for South Africa.

“I think we deserve to win some of these championships on the continent because I think we have got one of the best leagues in the world.

“I think we deserve to participate in the final and we wish them the best of luck.”

That Sundowns are now a game away from reaching the final seems unreal as the club crashed out of the competition after a defeat to Congolese side AS Vita in April.

They received a surprise reprieve in May after Vita were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player — Idrissa Traore.

The Brazilians were elevated into the top eight of the Champions League and Mosimane had to ask his players to cancel their holiday plans and return to training.

They have made full use of this early Christmas present and given their performances since returning to the competition‚ they should now be considered as dark horses for the continental competition.

Orlando Pirates were the last South African club to win the Champions League and they managed the feat in 1995.