Fatigue could torpedo Downs' Caf hopes

Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane says fixture fatigue could threaten their hopes of successfully defending the Caf Champions League title.

The Pretoria club funded by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe host Saint George of Ethiopia this weekend when a group phase expanded from eight clubs to 16 kicks off.

There are five matches on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday with seven winners of the competition among the contenders.

Sundowns last year became just the second South African winners of the elite African club competition, beating Zamalek of Egypt 3-1 on aggregate in the final.

Only Al Ahly of Egypt, TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Enyimba of Nigeria can boast of back-to-back triumphs in the 54-year competition.

Ultra pragmatist Mosimane, who played for and coached South Africa, says weariness among his squad could torpedo a successful title defence.

"The Saint George players are sitting in the stand, resting and watching us," he said after a midweek domestic match in Pretoria.

"It is not easy fighting on the South African and African fronts. We are playing every three days or so and injuries and suspensions can wreck plans.

"How good are we as a football team? How far can we go in South African and African competitions? Time will tell."

Mosimane also accepts that Sundowns have lost the element of surprise they enjoyed last year when not considered among the title favourites.

"That advantage has gone," conceded the 52-year-old. "Rivals clubs know who we are now and watch us on TV.

"But we are more experienced than last year, have greater quality and depth in our squad, and know what Champions League football is all about."

Saint George, the first club from Ethiopia to make the group phase, won all four qualifiers and five-goal Saladin Said is the leading Champions League scorer this season.

Sundowns are among eight first and second seeds enjoying matchday 1 home advantage this weekend.

The other top seeds are record eight-time champions Al Ahly, fellow Egyptian club and five-time winners Zamalek, and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia.

Etoile are the only club to have won all five present and past Caf competitions and impressed in a 5-1 qualifying demolition of AS Tanda from the Ivory Coast.

They should be too strong for Ferroviario Beira, a Mozambican club formed 93 years ago but competing in the Champions League for the first time.

Ahly will be wary of Zanaco having come unstuck against another Zambian club, Zesco United, in the group stage last year, dropping five points.

Zamalek host CAPS United of Zimbabwe, whose elimination of Mazembe was the shock of the qualifying phase.

The Cairo club are notorious for firing coaches and the latest man at the helm, Portuguese Augusto Inacio, says he will not tolerate interference.

"I will not accept anyone taking decisions for me," he stressed, no doubt mindful of Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour, whose coaching victims last year included Scot Alex McLeish.

FIXTURES

Friday

Group A:

7pm - Etoile Sahel (TUN) v Ferroviario Beira (MOZ)
9pm - Al Hilal (SUD) v Al Merrikh (SUD)

Group B:

7pm - USM Alger (ALG) v Al Ahly Tripoli (LBA)
9pm - Zamalek (EGY) v CAPS Utd (ZIM)

Group C:

5pm - Esperance (TUN) v V Club (COD)

Saturday

5pm - Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA, holders) v Saint George (ETH)

Group D:

7pm- Al Ahly (EGY) v Zanaco (ZAM)

Sunday

10pm - Wydad Casablanca (MAR) v Coton Sport (CMR)

Note: group winners and runners-up after six-matchday group phase qualify for quarterfinals.