South African clubs recorded mixed results on the opening weekend of CAF Champions League action after Mamelodi Sundowns lost 1-0 at Chicken Inn in Zimbabwe and Kaizer Chiefs trounced hosts Volcan 4-0 in the Comoros Island.

Both clubs are chasing elusive international glory after they crashed out of the same competition in the first round last year.

Sundowns, known as ‘The Brazilians’ and owned by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, are expected to overturn in a fortnight the 34th minute goal by Mitchelle Katsvairo they conceded to Chicken Inn in Bulawayo.

Pitso Mosimane, coach of the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) leaders, said: “We failed to catch the rhythm. It was difficult for us, we didn’t have the energy to up it up.

“The difficult thing is that we have some injuries, so I decided to rest my important players like Khama (Billiat) and (Keegan) Dolly because we have a long way to go. 1-0 is not bad.”

However, it is expected to be a mere formality for local rivals Kaizer Chiefs at the end of this month when they welcome Volcan from the Comoros Island after they won 4-0 with a brace by South Africa international defender Erick Mathoho.

Should Chiefs keep to form, they will be handed a first-round clash against the winners of the match between AS Coton Tchad and Asec Mimosas of the Ivory Coast next month.

Angola’s Libolo will also fancy their chances of reaching the first round after they trounced Racing Micomseng from Equatorial Guinea 5-1 with Luz Phellipe grabbing a hat-trick.

V Club of Congo, Cameroon’s Union Douala, Saint George from Ethiopia and Al-Ahli of Libya will also be expected to advance after comfortable first-leg wins.

Kenya champions Gor Mahia and Nigeria’s Enyimba suffered shock losses to CNaPS of Madagascar and SC Vipers of Uganda.

Experienced campaigners Gor Mahia fell 2-1 at home in Nairobi, while two-time African champions Enyimba failed to convert several clear-cut chances in the first half and paid dearly for that when they were beaten by a 73rd minute winner for the first-timers by Erisa Ssekisambu.

The pressure will be on ‘People’s Elephant’ Enyimba to win abujawell in the second leg in the southern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt so as to stay alive in the competition.

“I believe we will advance to the next round. In the next game, we will have our full squad and play differently from how we did. It is not over for us,” said Enyimba coach Paul Aigbogun.

Nigeria’s Warri Wolves and Ferrovairo Maputo from Mozambique enjoyed walkovers at the expense of Sporting Praia Cruz from Sao Tome and Principe and Centre Chiefs of Botswana, respectively.

Wolves will battle Al Merriekh of Sudan in the first round and Ferrovairo face the winners between AS Vita Club of DR Congo and Mafunzo from Zanzibar.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com