New irritation for Sundowns

MAMELODI Sundowns’ rollercoaster 2016 African Champions League campaign took another twist when they lost the points from their excellent opening group phase victory over ES Setif in Algeria earlier this month.

It means they start on zero points in what is effectively their first group game when they host Nigerian champions Enyimba at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville tonight ( 7.30pm).

Having sneaked through the back door into the group phase after the disqualification of AS Vita Club from the competition‚ Sundowns are looking to make the most of that good fortune.

But the loss of the points gained in Algeria‚ after Setif were also disqualified from the competition for crowd violence near the end of the game that Sundowns won 2-0‚ is a major irritation for coach Pitso Mosimane.

There are positives to be taken from every situation, though, and Sundowns can take great heart and belief from their performance in Setif.

The way they managed the match‚ containing the home side and using their pace on the break was‚ despite the final outcome‚ one of the best showings ever from a South African side on the road in Caf club competitions.

Today’s clash against Enyimba presents a different type of challenge and requires a change in game plan from Mosimane.

Sundowns will have to make the running and‚ as away points are like gold in this competition‚ know a victory at home is a must.

“You have to win two games at home‚ beat Zamalek and Enyimba then you are on six points‚” Mosimane said.

“Our mentality has changed a bit‚ we have found our confidence to go out and win.”

Enyimba‚ back-to-back winners of the Champions League in 2003 and 2004‚ know that another loss will be a huge setback in their hopes of advancing to the semifinals in what is now a threeteam group.

They lost 1-0 at home to Egyptian giants Zamalek in their pool opener‚ and a draw in Atteridgeville will be viewed as a positive result with a home encounter against Sundowns to come.

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