Small break on cards for Sundowns squad

Mamelodi Sundowns plan to give their players a brief holiday after the African Champions League final on June 1 and before their departure for the Club World Cup in the United States, where their first game is on June 17.

Coach Miguel Cardoso said he was looking at some five days off for the squad once they return from Cairo after the second leg of the Champions League final against Pyramids of Egypt.

Sundowns are likely to have little opportunity for a break after the end of the season and before they start preparing for the next campaign because of their involvement in the Champions League as well as the Club World Cup.

Sundowns host Pyramids in the first leg of the Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld on May 24 and then play the second leg in the Egyptian capital.

They are scheduled to leave for the US on June 9 and will be based in Florida.

Cardoso confirmed that there were plans for some friendly warm-up games before Sundowns open their Group F campaign against Ulsan HD from South Korea in Orlando.

But he said nothing was yet fixed amid reports that Benfica from Portugal were a possible opponent.

At the Club World Cup, Sundowns also play Borussia Dortmund from Germany in Cincinnati on June 21 and complete their group fixtures with a clash in Miami against Brazil’s Fluminense on June 25.

The top two teams in the group will advance to the knockout stages.