Mamelodi Sundowns captain Mosa Lebusa ha said he hopes the return of fans to match venues in South Africa could boost the DStv Premiership side in Saturday’s academic CAF Champions League group stage match against Al-Merreikh from Sudan.

He said this in a post-match interview with Sundowns website ahead of the match scheduled for FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

“I think it’s a massive boost for us and for all football lovers in the country,” he said.

“We have missed playing with the fans around. I think it’s going to be a great game for us and the fans as well. We are really happy that finally we are going back to play with the fans around.”

“We have been waiting to play in front of our fans, even though it’s for the last few games of the season we are really happy that the fans will be there to watch us. We have missed their singing, their support.”

The Premier Soccer League have confirmed the return of the fans return to stadiums after a two-year hiatus enforced by COVID-19.

Runaway group leaders Sundowns host the Sudanese side, which has plenty to play for as they have a remote dream of qualifying for the knockout round.

Sundowns lead the group six points ahead of second-placed holders Al-Ahly who welcome another Sudanese opposition Al-Hilal over the weekend.

Al-Hilal and Al-Merreikh have four points each from five games with one game to go.