When Mamelodi Sundowns returns for pre-season at the end of June, they are planning their camps all over the continent including a base in Europe, possibly in Holland.
This was confirmed by the Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane, who revealed that their pre-season planning is informed by their objectives next season especially in the CAF Champions League.
The Brazilians won their Absa Premiership title last season, but unfortunately bowed out in the semi-finals in the CAF Champions League.
Having a full pre-season for the first time in five seasons, Mosimane has laid out his team’s plans.
Continental club football is dominated by North African clubs as shown in the recent CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup finals which where both contested by clubs from that region only.
Mosimane feels that by playing them in the pre-season, they will be fully prepared for them. But he’s also targeting West Africa, Central Africa and to round it off in the Southern African region.
In recent years, Sundowns were seen as a team that wasn’t taking the MTN8 serious, but also due to hectic CAF schedule their hands were tied as they were involved in the crucial group stages under the old calendar.
Mosimane aims to wrap up his pre-season here at home as he prepares for the domestic programme which has got different speed.
Sundowns and Orlando Pirates represented South Africa in the CAF Champions League last season with the Bucs missing out on making the last eight.
At a time when there are some teams which are alleged to be considering pulling out of the CAF competitions next season, Mosimane pins his hopes on Sundowns and Pirates going all the way next season because there’s full understanding of these competitions. – Report by Velile Mnyandu
