Mamelodi Sundown will be flying out to Algeria on Tuesday to begin their much cherished bid to become continental champions.
The Brazilians have a tough opening assignment in the group phase of the African Champions League and will face former continental champions Entente Setif — winners in 2014 — at the May 8 Stadium in Setif on Saturday night.
Sundowns had a full squad back at training on Monday for the first time since the end of the Premier Soccer League campaign last month but will get just two sessions under their belt before heading off‚ relying on being able to pick up where they left off last season.
All players who competed in African Nations Cup qualifiers one week ago returned for medical checks and then training on Monday.
The rest of the squad who were not involved with international duty returned from a brief break last week except for Leonardo Castro‚ given a few extra days after going home to Colombia to see his new-born baby.
Castro returned to the club on Sunday.
Sundowns were originally going to leave on Wednesday but the flight plans have been brought forward by a day‚ giving the club an extra day to get used to what will be hot and steamy conditions in north Africa – in stark contrast to the cold in South Africa.
They plan a noisy send off at OR Tambo Airport with supporters set to provide rousing encouragement in the departure hall before the side sets off‚ official said on Monday.
The game will kick off at 10.15 local time because of the Moslem holy month of Ramadan and the fasting in daylight hours.
It is therefore a 11.15pm kick off in South Africa and the referee will be Mahamadou Keita of Mali.
Setif finished their season in Algeria one week after Sundowns’ last game and so have been in a similar predicament with a short vacation for their players and then back to work as they seek to take the continent’s top club prize.
Sundowns begin their quest to become continental champions
Mamelodi Sundown will be flying out to Algeria on Tuesday to begin their much cherished bid to become continental champions.
The Brazilians have a tough opening assignment in the group phase of the African Champions League and will face former continental champions Entente Setif — winners in 2014 — at the May 8 Stadium in Setif on Saturday night.
Sundowns had a full squad back at training on Monday for the first time since the end of the Premier Soccer League campaign last month but will get just two sessions under their belt before heading off‚ relying on being able to pick up where they left off last season.
All players who competed in African Nations Cup qualifiers one week ago returned for medical checks and then training on Monday.
The rest of the squad who were not involved with international duty returned from a brief break last week except for Leonardo Castro‚ given a few extra days after going home to Colombia to see his new-born baby.
Castro returned to the club on Sunday.
Sundowns were originally going to leave on Wednesday but the flight plans have been brought forward by a day‚ giving the club an extra day to get used to what will be hot and steamy conditions in north Africa – in stark contrast to the cold in South Africa.
They plan a noisy send off at OR Tambo Airport with supporters set to provide rousing encouragement in the departure hall before the side sets off‚ official said on Monday.
The game will kick off at 10.15 local time because of the Moslem holy month of Ramadan and the fasting in daylight hours.
It is therefore a 11.15pm kick off in South Africa and the referee will be Mahamadou Keita of Mali.
Setif finished their season in Algeria one week after Sundowns’ last game and so have been in a similar predicament with a short vacation for their players and then back to work as they seek to take the continent’s top club prize.
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