The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sundowns

  • Sundowns dump Remo Stars out of Champions League  

    Sundowns dump Remo Stars out of Champions League  

    Mamelodi Sundowns progressed to the CAF Champions League group stages after a crushing 7-1 win over two-legs against Remo Stars in the second preliminary round.

    First-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was given a rest by Masandawana, who started veteran Denis Onyango while Peter Shalulile was also given a recall.

    Sundowns made the better start once more and hit their noses front when Nuno Santos combined with Aubrey Modiba to get his first goal for the club on 20 minutes.

    The South African champions completely penetrated all-round in the earlier stages and kept the counterparts from Nigeria guessing.

    However, Remo looked to find an opening on the half-hour mark through a short-corner but unfortunately didn’t trouble Onyango.

    Sundowns continued to up the tempo with the visitors chasing shadows and they got their reward on 44 minutes courtesy of a goal from Shalulile.

    Read Also: Sundowns sign Cardoso ahead of Club World Cup

    The Namibian ace went close to adding a second goal after the break with a first-time effort from a cutback by Mudau, but the defence smothered his effort.

    Masandawana made a double alteration in the opening stages of the half as Bathusi Aubaas and Lebo Mothiba replaced Mokoena and Shalulile.

    The Nigerian champions continued to find the going tough against the host, but threatened late on when a looping shot by Samson Olasupo sailed over the top corner.

    Sundowns remained on the edge despite the dominant phase as the visitors closed-in again with a snap shot from the far side that bounced off the upright.

    Masandawana held firm with the minutes to full-time flowing and picked up a comfortable win as well as passage to the group stages of the Champions League.

  • Enyimba host Sundowns for Champions League dead rubber

    Enyimba host Sundowns for Champions League dead rubber

    Nigeria’s Enyimba will look to at least salvage their first point in Group B of the CAF Champions League when they host South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in Port Harcourt today.

    Enyimba have lost all three of their matches in the three-team group thus far, with their most recent result a 1-0 defeat away to Egyptian giants Zamalek earlier in the month which confirmed their elimination from the competition.

    Sundowns, on the other hand, come into the game with a 100 percent record in the group and top spot assured regardless of their result in Port Harcourt. It’s an ideal situation for coach Pitso Mosimane and his side, who will be able to rest key players ahead of what will be a busy schedule in the coming weeks.

    An influential player who is definitely going to miss the trip to Nigeria is South African international Keagan Dolly, who is injured after his exertions at the Olympic Games.

    Enyimba may be out of the running for the semifinals, but they have still issued a way cry on their official website ahead of the match: “Our campaign may be over but we have one final shot to exit with a bang. We host Sundowns on Tuesday and you can be the difference…”

    The teams’ earlier group meeting in Tshwane saw ‘Downs claim a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Leonardo Castro and Wayne Arendse. Moses Ojo scored Enyimba’s consolation.

  • Sundowns won’t loan Uzoenyi

    Sundowns won’t loan Uzoenyi

    Mohammed Lawal, who brokered the deal that took Ejike Uzoenyi to Mamelodi Sundowns, has reiterated that the Nigeria international will not be sent out on loan by the Pretoria based club before the end of the transfer window.

    The former Enugu Rangers star has been training with the Premier Soccer League champions for the past two weeks, but did not dress in back to back matches against Ajax Cape Town and Moroka Swallows.

    “You can not assume that he will be loaned since he has not played for Mamelodi Sundowns. Since Ejike arrived South Africa, he only missed playing one (two) game.

    “Ejike is fully registered with Sundowns and they can not loan him now since he has been registered,” says Mohammed Lawal to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    Ejike Uzoenyi did not take part in the Brazilians pre – season training due to difficulties in processing his work permit.

    South Africans will not get a glimpse of him when their national team confronts Nigeria next month in an African Nations Cup qualifier as he has been omitted from the nominated players.

  • Sundowns debut: Uzoenyi waits on SA Embassy

    Sundowns debut: Uzoenyi waits on SA Embassy

    Premier Soccer League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, will begin the defense of their title today against Maritzburg United without their new recruit, Ejike Uzoenyi.

    The 26-year-old is still holed up in Enugu awaiting the outcome of his work permit application to the South African embassy.

    Except the process is fast tracked, the Nigeria international might remain in his homeland until late August.

    Based on the new South African immigration system that came into effect few months ago, it takes a minimum of six weeks to process a similar work application.

    ”I submitted my application after the World Cup, I mean after the final game between Germany and Argentina. We have been told that the embassy can call me at any time to pick up the document, but I’v not heard from them yet.

    ”For now, I’m keeping fit by training with my former team, Enugu Rangers,” Ejike Uzoenyi told SL10.ng.

    Mamelodi Sundowns  are patiently waiting for the African Nations Championship top player to join the club, and they have no immediate plans to loan him out despite the bloated foreigners in the squad.

    Uzoenyi has penned a four-year deal with the Brazilians, tying him to the Pretoria based side till  2018.

     

  • Sundowns wait on Uzoenyi

    Sundowns wait on Uzoenyi

    Mamelodi Sundowns newcomer Ejike Uzoenyi and Ghanaian defender Rashid Sumaila are yet to report for pre-season training with the club after doing duty at the World Cup.

    The pair, though, will soon arrive at Chloorkop, according to Sundowns spokesman Kabelo Mosito.

    “Rashid is also not yet here but they will soon be arriving after participating in the World Cup,” says Mosito.

    Downs signed Nigerian midfielder Uzoenyi – who was named CHAN’s player of the tournament – earlier this year but he was immediately loaned back to his former club Enugu Rangers for the rest of the past campaign.

    Sumaila impressed in his maiden PSL showing last term, and has attracted interest from Turkish Super Lig side Akhisar Belediyespor.