Cape Town - Bidvest Wits manager Gavin Hunt claims South African clubs will continue to struggle in CAF competitions due to the Absa Premiership schedules.
Kaizer Chiefs, Wits, and Ajax Cape Town all won their first-leg ties in their respective preliminary round of CAF fixtures, while Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a surprise loss away from home to Zimbabwean Champions Chicken Inn.
Despite the bright start to the continental fixtures Hunt believes the hectic schedule during the latter stages of the PSL will hinder their chances in progressing further.
"I think all four teams will struggle in Africa this year. I don't think we've got much chance because of the league programme. We certainly haven't been looked after like we should be looked after," the Wits boss told Sowetan Live.
"We have to rotate our squad and the other three teams will do the same. Have you seen March and April [fixtures]? If anybody goes through, how are they going to do it? It is impossible. CAF is like playing in another world."
Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane reiterated Hunts comments when he claimed the league should have postponed some of their fixtures in order to ease the pressure on their squads.
"If the programme does not suit the teams playing in Africa, it will again be 'our teams don't take Africa seriously' or 'our teams don't have the mentality of playing in Africa,'" he said.