PSL to work around Sundowns’s hectic schedule.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ progress to the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League presents the PSL with yet another headache in laying out The Brazilians’ domestic fixtures for the new season.
Following their victory at Saint George on the weekend – Sundowns are guaranteed of finishing either first or second in Group C which means a place in the last eight of the restructured competition.
Though Saint George can still reach the same number of points as Sundowns and possibly have a better goal difference to the men from Chloorkop if they win their last match and Downs lose theirs, they cannot end second.
The CAF regulations state that in case of equality of points between two teams at the end of the group matches, the greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned will be used to find the winner.
Sundowns drew at home and won away against the Ethiopians.
Reaching the quarter-finals means the weekend dates of 8-10 September and 15-17 September are unavailable for any local fixtures involving The Brazilians.
Pitso Mosimane and his men will play any of Wydad Casablanca, ZANACO or Al Ahly in the last eight depending on the order of standings at the completion of the group matches this weekend.
Last season the PSL was forced into postponing several domestic fixtures involving Sundowns which meant The Brazilians spent most of the season playing catch-up as they were crowned African champions, going on to also play at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Should they also progress beyond the quarter-finals on the continent this year Sundowns will chew up September 29-October 1 and October 13-15 – the dates set aside for the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Also not available to domestic football will be October 27-19 along with November 3-5 – this provided Sundowns reach the final which will further complicate The Brazilians’ domestic fixture programme.
Last season Sundowns had only played three league games at the beginning of November and had as many as six games in hand at one time during the campaign.
