Mamelodi Sundowns' fixture congestion headache will worse this season with the introduction of the African Football League which has now created further issues for domestic football.
The AFL is due to get underway on the weekend of October 20-22 with the quarterfinals with Sundowns playing the first leg in Luanda against Angolan champions Petro de Luanda.
READ | Rulani reveals one Pirates tactic that surprised him
After the first leg in Luanda on October 21, The Brazilians will then host the second leg on October 24.
Should they proceed then they will play either Al Ahly or Simba in the semi-finals on October 29 and November 1 with the two legged final slotted in for November 5 and November 11.
What is a problem is that the October 20-22 weekend has been reserved for the last 16 fixtures of the new Carling Black Label KnockOut Cup while the rest of the AFL dates also clash with domestic fixtures.
Sundowns have league games to play against Moroka Swallows on October 29, AmaZulu (November 8), and TS Galaxy (November 12) and through that time will also play in the quarterfinals of the Carling Black Label if they get past the last 16.
This means besides the possibility of six matches in the AFL, the domestic champions will have further commitments in the DStv Premiership, Carling Black Label Cup, and then the CAF Champions League group stages before the end of the year.
Sundowns start their Champions League group stages campaign on the weekend of November 24/25 against FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania before they then travel to TP Mazembe on December 1/2 after which they welcome Pyramids a week later.
They will end their Champions League commitments with a trip to Pyramids on December 19.
After playing TS Galaxy on November 12 in the domestic league, Sundowns must still fulfil games against SuperSport United (November 25), Cape Town Spurs (December 9), and Cape Town City (December 23).
All four stages of the Carling Black Label Cup (league) will also be played before Christmas.
As it stands, the PSL is standing their ground on not bending for Sundowns whose fixtures have already been reshuffled according to their Champions League commitments.
At the other end, SAFA, who are the football governing mother body in the country and have a frosty relationship with the PSL have endorsed the AFL.
The AFL provides rich pickings with USD4 (approx. R77 million for the winners) while the quarterfinalists are guaranteed of USD1 million (approx. R19 million).
There have been suggestions that Sundowns should divide their squad into two teams for them to fulfil all fixtures on the domestic scene and the AFL.
You must be Sign In to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!