Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to start their CAF Champions League group stages with a bang, when they take on Petro De Luanda from Angola at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday evening.
Sundowns are in group C alongside USM Alger from Algeria and Wydad Casablanca from Angola. Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is expecting a physical game.
The fixture will kick-off at an unusual time of 9pm. This is due to the governing body CAF. The Brazilians have played in the same time before, and Mosimane says they are used to it.
Sundowns reached the semi-finals of the competition in the last campaign but lost to Wydad Casablanca from Morocco. Mosimane says it is crucial to win all home games.
The 2016 CAF Champions League winners will be involved in three competitions in a space of a week.
They beat Maritzburg United in the Telkom Cup and also beat Amazulu in a league match. Mosimane says it is tough to juggle all competitions.
Sundowns made several changes against AmaZulu FC compared to the team that beat Maritzburg. Mosimane says he was forced to make those changes.
The reigning champions are lying second on the PSL log trailing Kaizer Chiefs by ten points. Mosimane says the standard of the local league is very high.
The Brazilians have won their last two matches after going through a bad patch in the matches prior to that.
They lost to Chiefs and Golden Arrows and also drawn against Baroka FC. Mosimane says they need to sign at least two players in the January transfer window.
Meanwhile, Mosimane praised the Sundowns fans that are renowned for supporting their team through thick and thin.
The Brazilians supporters always sing for the team even when the team loses. – Report by Vincent Sitsula
