Downs wary of tricky trip to St George
Champs seek to secure top-two finish in Group C
Four of the five points Mamelodi Sundowns have collected in the CAF Champions League group stages have come away from home, so it’s probably why they were so calm as they left OR Tambo International Airport yesterday.
They began their journey to Addis Ababa – where they’ll play Ethiopian outfit St George – eager to collect maximum points in their penultimate group match on Saturday (3pm SA time).
A win for the reigning champions, who are in second place in Group C, would edge them closer to the quarterfinals and ease some pressure heading into the f inal group match against DRC side AS Vita in Atteridgeville next Friday.
St George, in third place, are also on five points and cannot be taken lightly, if their gutsy performance in the goalless draw with Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium last month is anything to go by.
“We are not in a difficult position. If we get a win, then we are in a good place. We need to go out there and do our best. We know what we need to do,” said Sundowns forward Percy Tau.
“We do not underestimate them. They have international players in their team who play for Ethiopia, so they can surprise us.”
Khama Billiat and Wayne Arendse travelled with the team, but are both nursing ankle injuries.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane said: “They are not ready. Khama is not going to play. He is doing rehab.
“Wayne has been training. He says he is pain free, but the ankle still feels funny. I think it needs to loosen up a bit because it’s stiff. I don’t think he will play, unless the doctors give me the green light. Maybe he will be on the bench.” Czech Republic – Wayde van Niekerk had promised to get “ridiculous” and he did just that when sprinting to a world record in the rarely run 300m last night.
The 24-year-old raced home at the Golden Spike meet in the north eastern Czech city of Ostrava in an outstanding 30.81 seconds.
The previous world record of 30.85sec was set at altitude in Pretoria in 2000 by American Michael Johnson.
It was the second time Van Niekerk has usurped Johnson, having broken his 17-year-old 400m world record when racing to victory at last year’s Rio Olympics.
Van Niekerk’s time also shattered the meet record of 30.97sec set by Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt in 2010.
“I’m so pleased and grateful for this big achievement,” said Van Niekerk.
“I’m honoured to be a small part of history.
“I have to rest a little but after that I hope I can continue to make baby steps to be better day by day.”
The result is another feather in the cap for the world and Olympic 400m champion, who this year has set a leading mark of 19.84sec in the 200m and a personal record of 9.94sec in the 100m.
Van Niekerk will aim to double up in the August 4-13 World Athletics Championships, in the 200 and 400m.
“This world record is a blessing. It’s a massive confidence booster,” he acknowledged, dubbing it an “honour” to twice better Johnson.
Also in Ostrava last night, Bolt fired to victory in the 100m in a modest 10.06 seconds, in what was his first appearance in Europe in his farewell season. – AFP
‘ ‘ If we get a win, then we are in a good place