WeeklySA_AdminCONTINENTAL GLORY: SALENG RETURNS AS PIRATES AND ‘DOWNS ENGAGE IN CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUATERFINAL TIES
By Ali Mphaki
Its no joke that the possibility of two of South Africa’s football giants facing each other in the CAF Champions League finals is getting ever nearer with both Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates featuring in separate quarterfinal ties against their north African counterparts on Tuesday evening.
Sundowns hosts Tunisian giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, while Orlando Pirates are away to MC Alger in Algeria, in their first-leg encounters of the prestigious continental tournament.
With both matches set for a 9pm kickoff (SA time), chances are high that the expected scintillating affair in the field of play will also trigger cat fights among SA families scrambling for the TV remote control in order to watch their favourite team. The first leg matches in the CAF Champions League will be played on Tuesday, April 1, and the return legs on Tuesday, April 8, bar the clash between Orlando Pirates and MC Alger that will be staged a day later.
The winner of the clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance will face either Al Ahly or Al Hilal. Meanwhile, the victor between MC Alger and Orlando Pirates will meet the winner of the Pyramids versus AS FAR tie. Should both ‘Downs and Pirates emerge victorious in their respective matches, they will meet each other in the finals, a first for South African football that will go down in the annals of history and place South Africa among the continent’s soccer heavyweights.
Media reports in North Africa say MC Alger made 50 000 tickets available for their encounter with Pirates on Tuesday, as news filtered that the estranged Bucs winger Monnapule Saleng was seen in training with the Pirates camp ahead of this clash.
And as of Wednesday afternoon, 49 500 tickets were already purchased, meaning only 500 tickets were left. Stade du 5 Juillet takes up to 64,200 spectators which could be intimidating for the visitors who have to show steel of nerves to counter their highly-offensive north African counterparts.
On Friday, Pirates released a clip from their training camp and showed Saleng training with the squad. The 26-year-old winger has not played for the Buccaneers in nearly four months, and his future with the Soweto giants is uncertain; he may have already played his last game for the team. It is widely believed that Saleng’s situation is related to contract issues.
Back home ‘Downs coach Miguel Cardoso was reported as dissatisfied after Sundowns’ hard-fought 1-0 Nedbank Cup quarter-final win over Sekhukhune United inside extra-time came just four days before their CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg against his former employers Esperance. The Portuguese mentor noted his concerns that The Brazilians were not afforded enough time to prepare for the first-leg tie in Tshwane on Tuesday, pointing out that the Tunisian FA have always been supportive of their clubs ahead of such clashes.
“We do represent not only the club but we represent South Africa, and I think it’s important that the people who rule football in South Africa have that capacity to understand that we should be provided the best conditions possible to compete,” Cardoso told the media. “They last played already 10 days ago, giving them 10 days to prepare before facing us.” Cardoso led Esperance to the Champions League final last season which makes for a humdinger.
Meanwhile, the first leg Quarter-final matches in the CAF Confederation Cup will be played on Wednesday, April 2, and the return legs on Wednesday, April 9. South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC welcome defending champions Zamalek SC from Egypt to the Cape Town Stadium (13h00 GMT), before the return at the Cairo International Stadium (16h00 GMT).
Asec Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire host last year’s runners-up RS Berkane of Morocco at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan (1600 GMT) before travelling to the Stade Municipal de Berkane for the return leg (19h00 GMT). There is an Algerian derby as CS Constantine familiar foes USM Alger in their first leg at the Stade Chahid Hamlaoui (16h00 GMT), with the return game at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 (19h00 GMT)
Finally, Egypt’s Al-Masry welcome Simba SC from Tanzania to the Suez Stadium (16h00 GMT), with the return game in Dar es Salaam to kick-off at 13h00 GMT.
