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Downs flying to Congo on chartered flight

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has revealed that his side will travel by private flight to Congo-Brazzaville to take on AS Otoho d’Oyo in a first leg preliminary CAF Champions League round match on Saturday.

Mosimane has said in the past that the North African sides have had an advantage in the continental showpiece because of their superior financial muscle, which allows them to fly private jets, meaning they don't have to catch connections or wait tediously when stopping over.

And now the Masandawana mentor has got his wish, at least for the upcoming weekend's game, as the Brazilians will be using a chartered flight to get to and from their clash in the Congo.

Because a charter flight is not part of a scheduled service, the flight will depart when you want it to. You are also able to choose which cities you fly to and from.

Mosimane has explained that because Congo is only four hours away, it is financially viable, but that it would be a different case when having to cross the Sahara desert.

"We have a private flight, fortunately because it’s not far," said the Downs tactician.

"Congo is not far, it’s about four hours, so the costs of going commercial and private are not too steep as going to Morocco, you know what I’m trying to say? And we have a game on Wednesday.

"When you have a team like Sundowns that has to play Champions League and wants to win the league, that is the challenge we face and it can be financially taxing and we appreciate when the board gives us the support.

"Last year we chartered to Rabat and we had a game against Leopards. How do you do that? We are enhancing the situation of the team going to the semi-finals of the Champions League and we are giving the team a chance to win the [domestic] league.

"Of course you want to do it the cheapest way, but how are you going to go from Rabat to Thohoyandou in two-and-half days? Forget it, it’s not going to happen. You are going to lose. The fixtures are congested."

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