SA sides’ chance to show pedigree
Pitso’s champions have the best chance of progressing. AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: MAKE-OR-BREAK WEEK FOR TEAMS
South African clubs’ participation in Caf competition is hanging in the balance. This after Bidvest Wits, SuperSport United and Platinum Stars all lost away in African competition last weekend.
Defending Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns were the only side to win, although they should have beaten Ugandan side Kampala City Council FC by a larger margin than 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
“We let ourselves down. We should have not allowed the goal. But we still won,” said coach Pitso Mosimane.
Sundowns should however have the quality to finish off the job when they play the second leg in Kampala on Saturday.
Bidvest Wits were beaten 1-0 in Cairo by Egyptian giants Al-Ahly, and although an away goal would have been handy, they still have a decent opportunity of turning the tables at the Bidvest Stadium on Sunday.
Platinum Stars, competing in the Confederation Cup, are in the same position after they narowly lost away from home.
Coach Cavin Johnson felt that his team were short-changed, but remains confident that they will win in Rustenburg on Saturday.
“We are happy to go home with 1-0. We will play better football and hopefully we will have a better ref as well,” he said after the defeat in Kampala.
SuperSport United also lost, but scored what could be two crucial away goals in Sudan in their 3-2 defeat to Al-Ahly Shendy.
They have both the experience and firepower to book their place in the next round.
Of the four South African clubs, it’s Bidvest Wits who are in the greatest danger of having their African dream ended prematurely.
They are facing a particular gruelling schedule as they try to challenge for local domestic cup and league honours as well – in an eight day period, Gavin Hunt and his men will have travelled to East London, Cairo and Cape Town, before returning home for their weekend Caf encounter. – ANA