Mamelodi Sundowns have yet another challenge on their shoulders in their bid to have all their Bafana Bafana players ‘fresh’ and available for the CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Sundowns travel to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to play Young Africans in the first leg of the last eight on March 30.
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This match will come just days after Bafana’s long trip from Algeria, where they will play in a FIFA Series against Andorra and the host nation on March 21 and March 26, respectively.
Bafana have seven players in the latest squad, who include key stars Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana, Thapelo Morena and Terrence Mashego.
The consequence of the late kick-off against Algeria on Tuesday next week is that Hugo Broos’ men will then spend the next day (Wednesday) travelling back home.
For Sundowns players, it will mean straight after arriving late on Wednesday or Thursday morning on the long flight from Algiers, they will have to proceed to Dar es Salaam for Saturday’s match.
According to the PSL fixtures, after the first leg of the Champions League, the Tshwane giants will then have to play Richards Bay FC under the lights on Wednesday, April 3 in the league.
That league game falls 48 hours before the Brazilians host the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
CAF has the game pencilled in for Friday, April 5 at Loftus Versfeld (20h00).
The PSL also still has Sundowns fixtured to play against Cape Town Spurs away the next day. This game is likely to be postponed.
Downs have 12 league games left to play.
Then they will have a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal, which could have a semi-final and final added if they keep going through.
In the CAF Champions League, beyond playing Young Africans, they could still have another four matches if they get to the semi-finals and final.
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Should the Chloorkop-based outfit get past Yanga, then they will come up against either Esperance or ASEC Mimosas in the semi-finals, which means long distance travel to either Tunis or Abidjan in April.
The semi-finals of the Champions League will be played on April 19/20 and April 26/27.
CAF has set aside May 19 and May 26 for the final.
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