Pitso makes use of ACL first-round bye
DOWNS COACH SENDS SCOUTS TO RATE HIS TEAM’S SECOND-ROUND RIVALS
Mamelodi Sundowns are not playing in the first round of this year’s African Champions League, but that does not mean they are sitting around this weekend as the competition gets underway.
Sundowns received a bye when the draw was released in December and are straight into the second round, in which they will play against Rayon Sports of Rwanda or Lydia Ludic Burundi Academic, who are from neighbouring Burundi.
But coach Pitso Mosimane has got scouts heading to check on the quality of their opponents and to produce reports for him to study as he prepares for next month’s second-round tie. He has put special emphasis on the Rwanda club, who are the favourites to advance.
SuperSport United, runners-up in the last African Confederation Cup, also have a bye into the second round as they play again in the same competition.
They will meet either Petro Atletico of Angola or Malawi’s Masters Security Services.
The other two South African representatives in the annual continental club competition all play this weekend and then again 10 days later.
The Confederation of African Football have switched the second-leg dates later this month to midweek.
Bidvest Wits are home to Pamplemousse SC from Mauritius in the first leg of their Champions League first-round tie on Saturday (kick off 6pm) and will travel away for the return on Wednesday 21 February.
Cape Town City are rookies in African competition and begin on Saturday (kick off 4pm) away in Swaziland against Young Buffaloes. They travel there on Thursday by bus after playing Wits in Johannesburg in the Nedbank Cup tomorrow night.
If City win the tie they meet Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana) or Costa do Sol (Mozambique) in the second round.
If Wits progress in the Champions League, they will be up against Primeiro Agosto (Angola) or FC Platinum (Zimbabwe).