SAFA wishes SA Clubs well in CAF competitions
SAFA pays tribute to local Premier Soccer League clubs Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and BidVest Wits and wishes them to do well in the CAF clubs champs.
South African Football Association (SAFA) pays tribute to local Premier Soccer League clubs Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and BidVest Wits, all the best in the CAF Club Competition, which kicks off this weekend.
League Champions Sundowns, together with runners-up Chiefs will contest the CAF Champions League, while Nedbank Cup winners Pirates and third-place finishers in the League, Wits, will take part in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Sundowns will be hoping a lot of love will be on their side as they face St Michel in Seychelles on Valentine’s Day, Saturday February 14 in the preliminary stage of the competition. The match kicks off at 16:30.
“It is difficult to play in Africa, we will have to be aware of everything that happens around us and learn to adapt,” said head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane.
The Brazilians last played in the Champions League in 2001, when they reached the final. They lost 4-1 on aggregate to Egyptian giants Al Ahly, after a 1-1 draw at home and 3-0 loss in Cairo.
Orlando Pirates from the South are the only South African club to have won the competition (1995), and reached the 2013 final where they lost to Al Ahly.
The second leg will be played on the weekend of February 27, 28 and March 1.
PSL log leaders Kaizer Chiefs from the South host Township Rollers from Botswana at FNB Stadium also on Saturday February 14, in a match which kicks off at 19:30.
“The strongest team will play and from now on we will only select the strongest available team, doesn’t matter against whom we play,” said Head coach of Kaizer Chiefs Stuart Baxter. “We will observe what the African teams are doing, but our main aim is to win the matches at home and try our best to do the same when we play away.”
In the CAF Confederations Cup, BidVest Wits welcomes Royal Leopards of Swaziland at BidVest Wits Stadium on the same day with an earlier kickoff of 18:00.
Pirates have been given a bye – they automatically advance to the next stage of the CAF Confederations Cup, where they will meet either Elgeco Plus of Madagascar or Uganda Revenue Authority.
“The South African Football Association (SAFA) would like to wish the four teams involved in the CAF Club Competition all the best as they will be flying the flag the of the country. As South Africans, it is encouraging to see so many teams involved in the competition, as this will in turn help our national teams to do well in major tournaments,” said SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble.
“We saw Orlando Pirates going all the way to the final last year, only to fall on the last hurdle. Our wish as an Association is for all clubs to emulate Pirates and do even better by winning the trophy. The experience gained in the competition can only serve to make a stronger Bafana Bafana. Good luck to all the four clubs and we are confident they will make us proud.”
The draws for the 19th edition of the Orange CAF Champions League 2015 and the 12th Orange CAF Confederation Cup was conducted in Cairo in December last year.
A total of 58 clubs entered the Champions League draw with 56 in the Confederations Cup.
