Caf milestone looms for Downs or Chiefs

MAMELODI Sundowns or Kaizer Chiefs have the chance to reach a milestone for South Africa in the African Champions League at the weekend.

South African clubs have so far recorded 99 victories in the elite continental competition and it would be a major surprise if the century is not reached.

The smart money suggests Mamelodi Sundowns will bring up the three figures when they take on Zimbabwean side Chicken Inn on Saturday in Bulawayo.

Should Sundowns fail to claim the victory, it is even more likely that Chiefs will win when they battle minnows Volcan Club in the Comoros Islands on Sunday.

The 99 victories for South African clubs have come from 202 games played, with 51 draws and 52 defeats.

They have outscored their opponents 314-192 in that time.

Chiefs have, in fact, played only 22 games in the competition, a number reduced by their threeyear ban a decade ago.

Amakhosi have won 15 of those, drawn one and suffered six defeats.

It is, however, the best winning ratio of all South African teams that have played in the Champions League.

Sundowns have won 28 of their 52 games so far, while Pirates, for all their success in this competition, have won less than half – 32 from 70 matches.

The Buccaneers have appeared in nine Champions League seasons, a mark Sundowns will match this year, with Chiefs entering their fifth. Other South African teams to have competed in the elite competition are SuperSport United (26 games), Ajax Cape Town (14), Manning Rangers (10), Platinum Stars (6) and Santos (2).

In all CAF competitions since the country’s readmission to international football in 1992, South African clubs have played in 380 matches, winning 186 (49%), with 91 draws and 103 defeats.

They have outscored their opponents 627-400.