The start of a new CAF Champions League campaign revives the interest that Mamelodi Sundowns have in lifting the trophy that tops the list of their priorities based on the investment made by the club.
Friday afternoon (15:00) is match day for Sundowns as they come up against Burundi champions Bumamuru in the first leg of their second-round tie which is being played at Azam Complex in Tanzania.
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The Burundians don't have the facilities that meet the CAF standards and have been forced to play in neighbouring Tanzania.
"The structure of that team is at amateur level, but they conduct themselves as professionals and the team does have money for Burundi standards and is well organised," says Aime Kitenge, the longest serving Burundian to ever play in South Africa.
Kitenge has been in South Africa since 1996 but has not lost touch with his homeland.
"They (Bumamuru) will put in a fight the same way that teams from the lower divisions here do when they play PSL clubs.
"So, they will give Sundowns problems for sure.
"What should be known is that they don't care about the names that Sundowns have.
"Sundowns should be warned about 'finder-finder' football that these guys will play because they will be chasing whatever chance.
"They will run like there is no tomorrow and hunt as a pack instead of seeking to match Sundowns with their sleek passing game.
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"You must understand that amateurs stick together because that is all they know.
"If Sundowns is not careful there will be problems.
"The players in that team will also be out to market themselves to South African teams because they also want better contracts.
"Sundowns is organised and make use of the analysts that they have but I don't think they have much to analyse at this stage because they are playing against amateurs.
"Analysing amateurs might turn out into confusion.
"I don't think Sundowns have any information about what kind of football these guys are playing.
"What will make it difficult for Sundowns is that they are playing against amateurs, and I think it will only be after the first leg that they will have proper information.
"Once Sundowns know how the Burundians play then it will make it easy for them.
"I forsee the first leg in Tanzania being difficult a bit for Sundowns.
"The fact that the first leg is being played in Tanzania doesn't really make a difference because Burundi will still be at home in Tanzania which is a neighbouring country.
"Sundowns will obviously end up winning over two legs, but they will be given some level of problems especially after getting past the team from Gabon in the first round," says Kitenge.
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