Mamelodi Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane admits that the departures of Percy Tau and Khama Billiat has weakened his PSL champions.
The attacking duo of Billiat and Tau were influential for the Brazilians in recent seasons, before they left at the end of last season.
Billiat joined local rivals Kaizer Chiefs after helping the club win the 2016 Caf Champions League.
Tau, last season’s PSL Player of the Year and top goalscorer Percy Tau, signed with Premier League club Brighton and was sent straight to the Belgian second division on loan.
Downs have especially missed them in their quest to regain their African crown, with the Brazilians needing to win their last two group games to advance in the competition.
And Bra Jingles says: “We lost two important players, Khama Billiat and Percy Tau to the English Premier League. So that creates a little bit of a difference.
“It’s football, it’s the power of the Euro, we have to sell the players. But I don’t think we are weak.”
Downs have a tough week ahead, facing Highlands Park in the PSL on Wednesday night (7.30pm) and then travel to the Mother City for their MTN8 semifinal first leg against Cape Town City.