Mamelodi Sundowns will have a fresh fixture crazy run looming after the next FIFA calendar break if they continue progressing in the Nedbank Cup and CAF Champions League.
Such is the madness ahead for the Tshwane outfit that they will have the dates of March 27 to June 2 to play up to 21 games including the league game against TS Galaxy that was postponed in midweek.
READ | Pirates held by resurgent Spurs
Counting from the day of the last FIFA calendar break in March to the next in June, this leaves 67 days in between.
However, this could be lesser as Bafana Bafana – who have a bulk of their players from Sundowns – will be travelling from Algeria on March 27/28, which leaves 64 days for 21 games with travelling in between.
Hugo Broos' men play against Andorra on March 21 and then Algeria on March 26 during the next FIFA calendar week.
The Brazilians will play Chippa United, SuperSport United, and Maritzburg United before the next FIFA break on March 18-26.
After that, they will have 12 league games to play, plus a maximum of three in the Nedbank Cup if they get past Maritzburg in the Last 16 and go on to reach the final, while there is a prospect of another six in the CAF Champions League if they also get to the final.
Sundowns are through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and will be fixtured to play any of Esperance, Simba SC, or Young Africans when the draw is done on March 12.
The Brazilians will travel to either Tunis or Dar es Salaam for the first leg on March 29-30, before they host the second leg slotted in for April 5-6.
If they progress to the semi-finals, then the dates of April 19-20 and April 26-27 will be booked for continental football, just like May 19 and May 26 if they get to the decider.
Should Sundowns reach the Champions League final, it will throw the DStv Premiership’s last two rounds of fixtures into tatters as they are also scheduled for the same dates.
The last two rounds are traditionally played on the same dates and at the same time to avoid any attempts of foul play in championship- and relegation-related matters.
Read: Chiefs keeper to get Bafana boost?
All domestic fixtures that fall on the same time as the Champions League will have to make way, leaving at least six domestic fixtures affected and in need of rescheduling in that compact time frame.
The Nedbank Cup final will then be played on June 1, after which the next FIFA calendar week (June 3-11) comes into effect.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
