SA stars eye Euro draws
The draws for the opening rounds of the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League competitions next season will be made on Monday, with a few South Africans likely to take a keen interest.
May Mahlangu and his Swedish side Helsingborg will enter the Champions League competition in the second round of qualifying, but will know their prospective opponents when the draw is made.
With SuperSport United forward Kermit Erasmus set to have trials at the club in the coming weeks, he too could be watching with interest.
Whoever Helsingborg do get, they will play them on the weeks of 17-18 July and 24-25 July.
Kamohelo Mokotjo and his Feyenoord side enter the competition at in the third round so will have to wait to find out their opponents. The draw for that is on July 20.
Thulani Serero’s Ajax Amsterdam have won straight through to the group stages, the draw for which will be on August 30.
Meanwhile, the draws for the first two rounds of qualifying for the Uefa Europa League will also be held, with Dino Ndlovu’s Israeli side to find out their prospective second round opponents. They have been given a bye from the first round.
Anele Ngcongca’s Belgian side Genk will enter the competition in the third round, the same stage as some of Europe’s top clubs – Liverpool, Inter Milan and Marseille.
Maritimo, who have a trio of South Africans on their books – Sergio Marakis, Miguel Rodrigues and Brad Wexler, will also enter at this stage.
Ayanda Patosi and his Lokeren side will enter at the play-off stage, their reward for winning the Belgian Cup last season.
If Steven Pienaar and Bongani Khumalo remain at Tottenham Hotspur in the new season, they will enter the competition at the group stages. Spurs were ousted from the Champions League in the cruelest of fashions – London rivals Chelsea’s victory in the competition last season meaning they had to drop down to the Europa League.
