All teams facing South African opposition this weekend in African club competitions – the first round, first leg matches in the African Champions League and African Confederation Cup – are at the start of their new seasons.
This means that, while Premier Soccer League sides have passed the halfway mark in the local season, their opponents will be going into the games undercooked.
Chicken Inn of Zimbabwe, who host Mamelodi Sundowns in Bulawayo on Saturday, have not yet started their season.
“The game against Sundowns is going to be one hell of a fixture that will require maximum concentration, seeing they are halfway through their season and we’re just coming out of pre-season,” Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas was quoted as saying this week.
Volcan Club of the Comoros Islands, who host Kaizer Chiefs in Moroni on Sunday, played the first match of their season on Saturday, beating Elan Club 3-1.
Bidvest Wits play Light Stars FC of Seychelles on Saturday. Ajax Cape Town is due to play Sagrada Esperança in Angola on Saturday, but the Cape side have said they will not be going, citing safety reasons.Advertisement