‘Loftus better for Sundowns fans’
MOSIMANE: TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS ARE MUCH EASIER
Pitso Mosimane has admitted that Mamelodi Sundowns would like to play more games at Loftus Versfeld because of its convenience for Masandawana supporters as opposed to the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
There are sponsorship problems, however, when it comes to the Brazilians staging Caf Champions League games there.
“As long as Loftus is available we will play here,” said Mosimane.
“It is not easy to find Loftus’ pitch looking good and it is looking good (lately).
“I personally think the stadium is hospitable, it is central for our supporters, mostly they come from Mamelodi so they take one bus. When you go to Atteridgeville you have to take another taxi and it is not easy, especially when it is night games.”
The Brazilians begin their Caf Champions League campaign next week Tuesday against Equatorial Guinea side Leones Vegetarianos, who they face in a preliminary round, first-leg clash in Malabo.
The return leg is scheduled to take place next month and it is most likely Downs will stage the match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. If the Brazilians want to host a Caf game at Loftus – like they did with the 2017 Super Cup final against TP Mazembe – they need to cover up the multiple Vodacom signs inside and outside the stadium as it clashes with a Caf sponsor in telecommunications company Orange.
“I would like to play at Loftus but the challenge is the Champions League, they have got that cellphone company and there is a lot of Vodacom at Loftus and to cover that is costly,” said Mosimane.
The Downs coach continued: “We would like to play teams there because there is a lot of pressure. The supporters are not far away from the pitch, it is a disadvantage for us when we don’t play there. It is our home stadium but we are sharing it with rugby.”
Sundowns have to share Loftus with the Blue Bulls rugby team.