LINYUKILE ithemba ngamaqembu akuleli abambe iqhaza emiqhudelwaneni yeCaf. Womabili amaqembu, iMamelodi Sundowns neMarumo Gallants, angene egijima kweyandulela owamanqamu emiqhudelwaneni yawo ngokuhlukana.
IMamelodi Sundowns ifinyelele kowandulela owamanqamu weChampions League okokuqala kusukela ngesizini ka-2018/19, igudluza iCR Belouizdad yase-Algeria. AmaBrazilian anqobe ngo-2-1 eLoftus Versfeld Stadium ngempelasonto, adlula ngo-6-2 uma sekuhlanganiswe imilenze yomibili njengoba owokuqala owawuse-Algiers awuthatha ngo-4-1.
IGallants ikhiphe izimpunyela zase-Egypt, iPyramids, ngesikhathi izithela phansi ngo-1-0 emlenzeni wesibili eRoyal Bafokeng Stadium ngeSonto. Owokuqala owadlalelwa eCairo, waphela zibambene ngo-1-1.
Bekungokokuqala ukuthi amaqembu amabili aseNingizimu Afrika afinyelele kweyandulela owamanqamu emiqhudelwaneni yeCaf kusukela ngo-2001, lapho iSundowns yangena khona kulesi sigaba kwiChampions League, iKaizer Chiefs yenza okufanayo kwi-African Cup Winners Cup.
Ngawo lowo nyaka, amaBrazilians adliwa yi-Al Ahly kowamanqamu, Amakhosi abuya nesicoco edla i-Inter de Luanda yase-Angola.
Ibamba lomqeqeshi kwiGallants, uRaymond Mdaka, lincome ezalo ngokuvalela iPyramids zonke izintuba zokungena ziphinde zikwazi ukuthola igoli elimqoka ekhaya.
“Bekuwumdlalo omuhle kakhulu. Bayiqembu eliyingozi kodwa besifuna ukunqoba. Basihlasele zibekwa, abazange bahlale emuva balindele ukusizuma. Sibe ngaphansi kwengcindezi ngasekuqaleni komdlalo kodwa sakwazi ukubuya, sathola igoli.
“Ngemva kwalokho, sizamile ukulawula izikhala enkundleni nokulawula umdlalo saze sawuthola umphumela. Ngiyabahalalisela abadlali,” kusho uMdaka.
AmaSandawana asezobhekana nompetha, iWydad Athletic Club, kowandulela owamanqamu.
UMokwena uthe kusafanele bagxile emdlalweni wabo olandelayo weDStv Premiership abazowudlala naMaZulu FC eMoses Mabhida Stadium kusasa, ngo-7.30 ebusuku.
"Kumele ngikhulume iqiniso, ngike ngayibuka iWydad njengesibukeli esijwayelekile nje, ngizibhekela okwenzeka kwiChampions League. Ngibuke isigaba samaqoqo njengoba bengibheka zonke izimbangi ukuze ngikale izinga leChampions League,” kusho uMokwena.
“Ngiwubukile umdlalo wabo wokugcina (neSimba) ngingakazi ukuthi sizodlala naliphi iqembu. Bengingagxilile eqenjini elithile kodwa umsebenzi uzoqala.
“Mkhulu umsebenzi esiwenzile silungiselela iBelouizdad futhi sizophinde sisebenze ukulungiselela umdlalo wethu olandelayo naMaZulu ozoba nzima.
“Ngizoba nombono othe xaxa ngeWydad uma umdlalo ususondele kodwa ngiyazi ukuthi bayiqembu eliyingozi. Banomlando omningi kulo mqhudelwano njenge-Al Ahly ngakho kuzofanele sidlale kahle kakhulu kodwa sizobhekana nalokho ngesikhathi esifanele.”
IGallants izodudulana neYoung Africans yaseTanzania kowandulela owamanqamu eCaf Confederation Cup.