Ethiopia heavyweights St. George will make do without Salhadin Said, Mentesnote Adane and Behaliu Assefa when they face Mamelodi Sundowns in the African Champions League Saturday.
The 18-man squad landed in Johannesburg on Thursday before connecting to Pretoria by road where the match will be staged at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Salhadin, the lead scorer for the Horsemen with fifteen goals in the Ethiopian Premier League and five in the Champions League is suspended for accumulated yellow cards.
He scored St. George’s lone goal away to Jima Aba Buna in the EPL on Sunday.
Adane was sent off after scoring the only goal against AC Leopards in the first leg second round match of the Champions League in Brazzaville.
St. George have however been boosted by the return from injury of Minyahel Teshome, who was passed fit after months out.
In the absence of Salhadin, coach Mart Noolj is expected front Adane Girma in attack.
The veteran striker boasts 11 goals this season. Prodigy Abubeker Sani could also be thrown in the mix in search of goals.
Ugandan goalkeeper Robert Odongkara who returned against Jimma after time out with an injury is expected to man the goal posts and deny Sundowns lethal attack line, which consists Pacy Tau and Khama Billiet.
Ondongkara is still battling to regain full fitness. His opposite number and country mate Denis Onyango was this week voted the best player for the month of April in the Premier Soccer League after keeping five clean sheets in the month.
Mart is braced for a tough group campaign, “If you are in the last 16, it is always difficult. There are no easy clubs at this stage. There are no easy games likewise weak opponents.”
Sundowns’ Pitso Masimone on the other hand is concerned about his side’s slump in the domestic title race with fatigue catching up with them.
The African 2016 best coach has nonetheless pledged to offer their best to achieve their goals.
