The recent 3-1 win over Medeama SC of Ghana in the first leg of their fourth round tie at Atteridgeville ensures Sundowns enjoy a healthy lead to the Cape Coast for their second leg tonight and, barring a major upset and shock defeat, the Brazilians are likely to advance to the group draw in Cairo on May 24.
The group phase will start with the opening match on the weekend of June 18-19, less than a month after Sundowns complete their programme for this season.
Sundowns’ last game in the Absa Premiership is on Saturday against Platinum Stars, leaving coach Pitso Mosimane with a major dilemma: Does he give his players a brief holiday for a fortnight or so after a long and drawn out season or does he keep them training and just go right through?
Sundowns face a high quality of opponent in the group phase and Mosimane’s penchant for meticulous planning suggests his might go for the latter.
As shown by Orlando Pirates in previous years, when they were placed in the same predicament, the lack of a holiday and proper pre-season preparation impacts negatively on a club later on down the line.
There are more group games at the end of June, two more in July and the last two in August, all before the new domestic season is scheduled to get underway.
Although the PSL have yet to make an official announcement, it is now common cause among club officials that the season only starts after the completion of the Olympic Games to make allowance for South Africa to field a full strength squad.
Traditionally the new season always gets underway on the first weekend of August but is now likely only towards the end of the month.
It means a longer rest for the other PSL clubs and more than adequate time for pre-season preparation.