Caf Champions League: Sundowns kick-off time shifted

Mamelodi Sundowns have seen the kick-off time for their Caf Champions League fixture against Al-Hilal shifted.

The Sudanese club have an issue with the floodlights at their home ground which has necessitated a switch in time to an afternoon fixture away from the scheduled evening game which would have kicked off at 18:00.

Sundowns kick-off time shifted to the afternoon due to dodgy lighting

No strangers to late changes in their Champions League campaigns, Sundowns have welcomed the switch which has allowed them to secure an earlier flight home to begin rest and recovery ahead of their PSL clash with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Tuesday 6 April.

Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena noted that the lighting was an issue, as seen in the Bafana Bafana match against Sudan which was played at the same stadium. He also feels the move benefits Sundowns in the long run, even if it means they face playing football in temperatures close to 40 degrees.

“The reasons given for moving the match was that the reality is that the stadium is not in the best of conditions from an electrical perspective,” the Mamelodi Sundowns trainer said. 

“We are not engineers, but the reports we get are that the lighting is not very good and you could see it in the Bafana Bafana game where in the second half where one side of the pitch became a bit dimmer, on the side of (Innocent) Maela. 

“It augurs well for our match and our preparations and we get to focus on that. Does it work in our favour? I think so. We then win a bit more time to recover and prepare for our next domestic match in South Africa. We fly out immediately after the match and it allows us more time to rest, prior to engaging in another stretch in relation to our travels.”

Al-Hilal have everything to play for in crucial tie

Mamelodi Sundowns currently sport a perfect record in the Caf Champions League group stage and have already secured top spot in their section with two matches to play. There is far more on the line for the hosts Al-Hilal, who are locked in a three-way battle for second with CR Belouizdad and TP Mazembe. Defeat for the Sudanese club will see them cede second place in the group regardless of the result in the match between Belouizdad and TP Mazembe.

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