No third team for South Africa in Champions League

CONTRARY to the generally held notion, Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League success will not earn South Africa a third spot in the continent’s premier club knockout competition next year.

South Africa currently have two spots in the competition and that’s how it will remain next year, Sundowns qualifying as both holders and Premiership champions notwithstanding.

Thoughts were that Sundowns’ success will open the way for a third South African side, which would have been third-placed Platinum Stars, in addition to last seasons runners-up Wits.

But, according to CAF, that won’t be the case.

“Following an amendment made to the regulations as per the decision of the OC two years ago, no associations can engage more than two clubs,” said CAF media man Junior Binyam.

He added: “The association of the holder of CAF Champions League is not allowed to engage another team in case the holder of CAF Champions League is defending its title. Only the holder of the title is engaged from this association when the said association is entitled to only one club. In case the association is allowed to engage two teams and the champion is defending its title, only the holder of the title and the champion of the national league will be allowed to be engaged. In that particular case, the second of the league will not be allowed to engage in CAF Champions League.

“In case the holder of the title is at the same time the champion of the national league, he will be engaged with the second of the national league and the third classified team will not be allowed to participate. In case the holder of the title is at the same time the second of the national league, he will be engaged with the first of the national league and the third team will not be allowed to engage.”

While this might seem a blow to South Africa, Sundowns’ success is good for SA football in that it means the country will continue to have two teams in the Champions League for the foreseeable future.