CAF Champions League: Burundi’s Bumamuru FC ready for Mamelodi Sundowns test

The head coach of Bumamuru FC has said they are well prepared to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the 2023/2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Bumamuru FC, the Burundi Premier League reigning champions will host the South African giants on Friday evening at the Azam Complex in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Michel Tuhabonye, the Bumamuru Fc head coach made it clear on Thursday that his team has prepared well and know what to expect against the 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns. ” We need to be at our best, play as a team and also take our chances, ” said the coach.

He made it clear that they are motivated by the facet that they beat Congo’s Centre Sportif de Bendje 5-1 in the same Stadium in the first round. Bumamuru FC ejected the Congo Premier League champions 6-2 on aggregate in the first round.

Tuhabonye made it clear that it is always important to make good use of the home matches in such competitions, then also plan well for the away leg. ” My players are ready to give a good account to prove a point, ” he added.

Bumamuru will hope that their leading scorers Mokono Elie Eldinho and Ali Shabani Valentin who have each netted three goals find their scoring touch against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Four other teams from the CECAFA Zone will also be in action in the same competition this weekend.

Tanzania’s Simba SC who reached the quarter final stage last season will play away to Power Dynamos in Ndola, Zambia, and Young Africans SC, the Tanzanian Premier League giants who reached the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup play away to Sudan’s Al Merriekh at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday.

On Sunday Rwanda’s APR FC will face a tough test against Pyramids FC from Egypt, while Al Hilal (Sudan) take on Primero de Agosto away in Angola. Ethiopia’s St.George will also be in action against Egyptian giants Al Ahly the next weekend in Cairo.