CAF break frees Downs for title run in
Focus on league and Ke Yona
On paper, Mamelodi Sundowns appear to have a tough schedule, but they will not be playing in the CAF Champions League for about seven weeks and that gives them breathing space to focus on domestic competitions.
The Brazilians are top of the Absa Premiership log and in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals, as well as in the group stage of the Champions League.
Unlike in the past couple of years when Sundowns played non-stop and had to travel in and out of the country, they are able to focus on one competition at a time this year.
The Brazilians were this week drawn in Champions League’s Group C with African champions Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Guinean side Horoya and Togolese outfit AS Togo-Port. They will only start their continental sojourn early in May.
For now, they can focus on their Nedbank Cup quarterfinal clash against Cape Town City away on April 1.
Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana said the fact that they can focus on one competition at a time could be helpful in their cause to achieve glory at home and on the continent.
“I think this time around the CAF calendar gives us a little bit of a fair chance, because the calendar allows us to focus on certain competitions,” Kekana told Sowetan yesterday.
This year’s Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions will be the last time the two continental tournaments are staged between February and December. From next year, they are scheduled to kick off in September and end the following May, bringing the dates in line with many African domestic seasons.
The current situation, however, still helps Sundowns because instead of playing their group stage matches in between domestic matches, they can fully focus on matches at home for the next seven weeks and depending on results, the league may be wrapped up by the time they return to the continental competition.
Sundowns, who are top of the Premiership log with 43 points from 23 matches, will play six league matches before they face Wydad in their group stage opener in May.
Commenting on the CAF draw, the 32-year-old said: “When you face people who have done well for themselves, it motivates you... We were African champions not long ago and the other two teams [Horoya and AS Togo] will come motivated to face us.”