Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has called into question the timing of the Absa Premiership, saying that it disadvantages the teams competing in the CAF competitions.

The Chloorkop based-outfit are unable to register players for the African competitions if the players are not registered within their local league. The former Bafana Bafana mentor has strongly recommended that amendments be made to this arrangement.

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‘Now the transfer [registration period] is open for CAF to sign [register] players. I want to sign a player in South Africa, [but] how do I sign him?’ he told kickoff.

“But other people have advantages, the whole Africa has an advantage to sign players. They are signing now, everybody is signing.

‘The only person I can sign [register] is Fares [Hachi] and [Motjeka] Madisha, but I can’t sign [new players]. They [other African clubs] are buying, but when is their transfer date? If FIFA allows other countries now, why can’t I sign?’ Moismane did not mince his words when he said that Masandawana are at an advantage as opposed to their Ethiopian opponents Saint George who have been able bolster their squad ahead of the two teams’ two-legged group stage encounter.

‘I don’t want to say it’s a South African or CAF, or FIFA [issue]. I am saying it’s a disadvantage for me. I want to sign players, I want to strengthen the team for [CAF] Champions League.

‘The Ethopians [Saint George] are signing players, I am looking there, I am watching, people are signing and strengthening their teams.

‘But when I play here [domestically] I don’t have players. I don’t sign anybody so I play with a weak team, but the transfer [period] is open [elsewhere] but [here] it is closed.

‘It’s not only Sundowns but also SuperSport United and Platinum Stars. Our teams are at a disadvantage at this point in time.

‘And you know, I want to strengthen the team, and I told you I want to strengthen the team, but now how can a player play for both teams?

‘Let’s say I buy a player from Maritzburg United, and they will say how can I give you my player to play Champions League and the player cannot play for two teams in the same calender year?

‘You will never find that in Europe. You will never find that in Asia, but our beloved continent… here we go,’ he concluded.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix