CAF Champions League: Sundowns set to miss key player?
Erwin Saavedra Mamelodi Sundowns could miss the clash against Al Ahly
South African club Mamelodi Sundowns could be without their latest signing Erwin Saavedra when they take on Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League this weekend.
The two clubs are scheduled to meet in a group A match at Al Salaam Stadium on Saturday, 26 February.
According to reports coming out of South Africa, Sundowns’ new South American signing Saavedra is a doubt for the clash against Ahly, after he was taken off with an injury during the first half of last Saturday’s clash with Al Merrikh. Sundowns are yet to confirm if the player will be available to play this weekend, but the club has enough depth to bring in someone else who can do the job in the absence of their new Bolivian international signing.
He made his debut for Sundowns in the opening group A match against Al Hilal, coming on in the dying minutes of the game, just two days after landing in South Africa. He was then given an opportunity to start against Merrikh but was unable to finish the game because of the injury he sustained. The Sundowns technical might not risk him against Ahly and this could give an opportunity to a player like Thabiso Kutumela, who came on when Saavedra was taken off against Merrikh.
Another player who is not available for Sundowns this weekend is Slovakian striker Pavol Safranko. The striker has been finding his feet in recent times at Sundowns after a slow start at the beginning of the season, but this injury could set him back a bit.
