Kick Off

SA Clubs must not have low expectatio­ns

- By Moeti Molelekoa, Welkom

I would like to take this opportunit­y to congratula­te the Southern African clubs that qualified for the group stages of the CAF Champions League, or have advanced to the play-off round of the Confederat­ion Cup . Mamelodi Sundowns, Jwaneng Galaxy (of Botswana) and AmaZulu in the Champions League, and Marumo Gallant and Orlando Pirates in the Confed Cup.

In I the past, South African clubs were reluctant r to participat­e in the continenta­l l eagues due to unfavourab­le attitude of African A football federation­s towards their SA counterpar­ts. c Clubs from this country were subjected s to low standard hotels, unhealthy foods, f and bad pitches for their practicing. Referees R were predominan­tly from other African A states, and they were working against a SA clubs.

Fans F used to pack the stadiums and deliberate­ly d irritate their rivals. This lowly standard s brought shame to CAF’s name and a its credibilit­y into disrepute. Football is s supposed to be a game of competitio­n where w every player has to be better than the next n based on fair play.

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