Sundowns bosses arrive at Bosso

season which resumes after the end of the Nations Cup finals kicking off in their country this weekend.

“We are bringing in a full strength squad except those called up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the Nations Cup finals,” said Chueu, a football legend in South Africa and now the technical analyst at The Brazilians, as Sundowns are known.

Moloto, Sundowns’ technical director, said they are taking their tour of Zimbabwe very seriously and urged local soccer fans to come in their numbers for the match against Highlanders set for Barbourfields Stadium on Wednesday 31 January.

“We are in Zimbabwe to do business and we want to see the stadia full to capacity,” said Moloto.

He did not rule out that his team would also be scouting for talented players during their tour of the country.

Moloto and Chueu met Highlanders chairman Peter Dube and interim treasurer Jerry Sibanda at a city hotel yesterday and will this morning tour Barbourfields Stadium, Highlanders facilities like the club offices, clubhouse and Hotel California in Luveve before flying back to South Africa this afternoon.

“It’s a big achievement for this club (Highlanders). We have had an eye-opening discussion with these guys and so far it’s an eye-opener for us. Their systems are quite advanced and we hope to learn one or two things from them,” said Dube.

Coached by former Bafana Bafana head coach, Pitso Mosimane, Mamelodi Sundowns is home to three Zimbabweans — Method Mwanjali, Nyasha Mushekwi and former AmaZulu strongman, Esrom Nyandoro, who are all expected to come face to face with their fellow countrymen during the tour.

Mwanjali and Mushekwi will face their former paymasters, Caps United, while Nyandoro will be in familiar territory at Barbourfields Stadium where he used to toil it out for the now disbanded AmaZulu.

Some familiar faces from Sundowns will be their skipper Teko Modise and Surprise Moriri among other players.

The Brazilians started their season badly and their performances deteriorated steadily under Dutchman Johan Neeskens and were beginning to be a familiar feature at the bottom of the log standings until the appointment of Mosimane. They are now ranked 10th on the standings with 18 points but look set to come out strongly during the home stretch.

Their first match after the mid season break will be a crunch encounter against leaders Kaizer Chiefs on 12 February.

For Highlanders who started their pre-season preparations last week, the match will provide them with a perfect test ahead of their BOB 89 encounter against Dynamos next month while Dynamos will also get a perfect international match feel before their Caf Champions League campaign.