Mamelodi Sundowns to face TS Galaxy without Bafana Bafana players

The Brazilians finally got the green light from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to participate in the African Football League (AFL), which gets underway next weekend with an away fixture against Petro de Luanda of Angola. 

READ: Morocco coach counts Bafana among AFCON 2023 favourites

Galaxy have agreed to move their cup tie to an earlier date to allow Downs a few days to recover and prepare for the continental assignment.

However, this comes at the expense of not having goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, defenders Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, and captain Themba Zwane.

The contingent is among coach Hugo Broos' squad that played to a goalless draw with eSwatini on Friday night at FNB Stadium, before they clash with Ivory Coast in Abidjan on Tuesday. 

SABC Sport understands Downs’ national team stars are expected to travel straight to Angola the next day to meet their club mates in the build-up to the first leg of their encounter with Petro on Saturday. 

For several weeks now it was unclear whether Sundowns would feature in the AFL, with the PSL and its member clubs initially voting against the idea.

ALSO READ: PSL call urgent meeting with member clubs

However, during another urgent meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG) held on Friday, it's understood an agreement was reached that the DStv Premiership champions would go ahead. 

Sundowns had already been given the go-ahead to engage TS Galaxy as well as Moroka Swallows to discuss potential new dates for their upcoming matches, although the latter will only be affected if Rulani Mokwena's charges progress to the AFL semi-finals, which would affect their league match on 29 October.