Week off may be a veiled blessing for Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns’ welloiled machine is being tested by changes to the fixture schedule, with Covid-19-induced disruptions to their Caf Champions League campaign also impacting on games in the DStv Premiership and Nedbank Cup.

Sundowns have the week off, after the Confederation of African Football today postponed the Caf Champions League Group B clash in Algeria against CR Belouzidad, scheduled for tomorrow, after the Algerians indicated that they wouldn’t allow Sundowns into the country, as per health regulations in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Masandawana had already seen Saturday’s DStv Premiership fixture against Maritzburg United postponed to allow them time to travel to Algeria, and there was no time to re-schedule that game for this week, especially as Sundowns are now set to travel to Tanzania this weekend to take on Belouzidad on neutral territory.

This means Sundowns’ Nedbank Cup last-16 match at home to Polokwane City, scheduled for Saturday, would have to be postponed, leaving Sundowns playing catch-up at a later date.

Sundowns are used to balancing continental competition with domestic duties, but the travel problems caused by Covid-19 have added an extra layer of pain for all involved.

“It puts a spanner in the works, because everyone wants to work in a way where things are pre-planned, and to navigate our way through a programme that has been set out, particularly with us (Sundowns), who are big on periodisation. We have a good medical and sports science department with good conditioning and performance coaches,” said Sundowns cohead coach Rulani Mokwena yesterday.

“It throws off our preparations, we were working towards Maritzburg, or the Nedbank Cup on the weekend, and it is a bit different if you have to have another fixture. But it is what it is and the best thing to try to do is to have the right sort of perspective.

With a four point lead at the top of the table, and the Telkom Knockout title already in the bag, as well as having already won their Champions League Group B opener against Al-Hilal, Sundowns remain in a healthy position, and Mokwena did also note that the break does give them time to rest amid a hectic schedule.

“Now is a good time where we can work on the team in different game formats. It also gives us time to regenerate and prioritise freshness,” he added.