Downs kick-off African adventure

Mamelodi Sundowns will ignite their quest for African supremacy against St. Michel at Stad Linite in a Champions League match on Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 4:30 pm.

The Brazilians have long been waiting to replicate their run to the final in 2001 and will finally get the much anticipated 2015 CAF Champions League campaign up and running with a tricky tie in the Seychelles.

'Downs though will be confident of getting a positive result in the first leg, preliminary round match following an impressive 4-1 win over Moroka Swallows on Tuesday.

The defending Absa Premiership champions have amassed a 14 game unbeaten run in South Africa's top flight , but head into the encounter under no illusion of the difficulties that lie ahead.

"They are closed book. They are not on TV and how are we going to know about them," said head coach Pitso Mosimane before jetting of to the Seychelles.

"I sent Mike Ntombela there and he saw a few things. I asked the guys in Zimbabwe with the team called How Mine. They played against them... How Mine lost in Seychelles. They warned us that the team in Seychelles is attacking like nothing.

"It's an artificial pitch, you know the story. But it's no excuses. We said we want to play in the Champions league and we can't complain."

'Downs recently beat Angolan side Progresso da Lunda Sul 6-2 on an artificial pitch at the Nike Centre in Pimville,

St.Michel have won close to 40 top flight titles in the Seychelles and will prove to be a good test for the reigning South African champions who are eager to prove themselves on the African continent.

South Africa failed to have a representative in last year's Champions League group stages, but will be hopeful either 'Downs or Kaizer Chiefs could replicate Orlando Pirates this term.

The Buccaneers won the continental showpiece in 1995 and more recently lost to Al Ahly in the final of the 2013 edition.

The return leg will take place at Lucas Moripe Stadium on 28 February.