Downs can’t afford slip-up

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango (above) has enjoyed his return to an old haunt in Ethiopia, but is now focused on the Brazilians team securing a vital Caf Champions League result in Addis Ababa this afternoon.

Onyango played for today’s Group C opponents, St George, for a season before moving to South Africa to join SuperSport United in 2006.

“It was amazing meeting the guys from the office, the guys who work at St George after all these years are the same guys,” said Onyango this week, as Sundowns prepared for today’s game in Addis.

“They welcomed me at the airport and were happy to see me back in Ethiopia after 12 years, it was an amazing moment … as much as I played there for a season I thought they had forgotten about me, but they have been following me and they know my progress.”

Onyango has, of course, gone on to great heights in the continental game, including winning last year’s Champions League with Sundowns.

Pitso Mosimane’s side, however, have struggled a little in the group stages of this year’s competition, winning just one of their four matches. They could seriously do with all three points in Addis today, though that will be far from an easy task against a St George side that are level on points with Sundowns and also in contention for the quarterfinals. They have also not lost at home in four Champions League matches in 2017.

In a Caf Confederation Cup Group D clash today, meanwhile, SuperSport United, fresh from winning the Nedbank Cup, are in Guinea to play Horoya in a key game in the race for the quarterfinals.

Matsatsantsa currently trail Horoya by two points and are level on points with DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.