Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has again called on the Premier Soccer league to make amendments to the calender, citing the difficulty of trying to compete in the Caf Champions League.

Masandawana succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Esperance on Friday night, their first home defeat in the competition since their 1-0 loss against Zamalek in October last year, and Mosimane lamented the local football schedule, which he feels forces his side to have to prioritise their participation.

“If it was up to me, this thing is simple. We should play from January and take a break in November and December,” he told IOL.

“But it is not my decision,.

“I don’t want to sound like I don’t respect the local league.

“We have to prioritise and figure out what we want. Are we happy to continue this never-ending season for a fourth year in a row because we are playing in the Champions League again next year?

“For me, it is again simple – we can fight for the league title here at home and the Champions League, and leave the rest (domestic competitions). I don’t think our local league is doing us any favours with our calendar,” he added.

The former Bafana Bafana mentor’s plea arrives on the back of injuries to first-team players Hlompho Kekana, Khama Billiat, Anthony Laffor, Wayne Arendse, Ricardo Nascimento and Yannick Zakri, all missing the Group C encounter against table-toppers Esperance, who now have seven points.

The result saw Sundowns drop to third spot, four points behind Saint George, who got the better of AS Vita Club 1-0 on Sunday in the other group match in Addis Ababa.

“Our league schedule doesn’t suit teams playing in the African competitions, and I am also worried now because we have six players called up for Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.

“This would have been an ideal time to rest a bit, but they have to represent their country. In my opinion, we need to change the programme because we can’t solve this problem,” he concluded.

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