SA stars learn Europa League fate
South Africa’s Anele Ngcongca has been handed a tough draw in the group stages of the Uefa Europa league after the draw was made on Friday.
Ngcongca’s Belgian side Genk will take on sporting Lisbon of Portugal, FS Basle from Switzerland and Videoton of Hungary.
Genk will be confident of progressing to the next stage, but Sporting have traditionally been a tough side to play against, while Basle were giant killers last season when they knocked Manchester United out of the Uefa Champions League.
May Mahlangu’s Helsingborg have a varied group aginst Dutch side FC Twente, German side Hannover and last season’s surprise package in the Spanish La Liga, Levante.
South African-born Sergio Marakis will hope he gets some game-time as his Portuguese side Maritimo play English Premiership Newcastle United, French outfit Bordeaux and Club Brugge from Belgium.
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic will lead his Serbian side Partizan Belgrade against Italian giants Inter Milan, Macbeth Sibaya’s former Russian side Rubin Kazan and Azerbaijani outfit Neftci.
