Mamelodi Sundowns' newest signing, Sibusiso Vilakazi, will have to wait until 2017 to make his CAF Champions League debut for the club.
Read: Vilakazi's Sundowns Contract
Vilakazi, 26, finally completed his move to Chloorkop last week after over a year of negotiations finally reached a climax, with the Bafana Bafana international leaving Bidvest Wits in return for Mogakolodi Ngele, Cuthbert Malajila and cash.
While 'Vila' is now eligible to turn out in Sundowns colours when the Absa Premiership gets underway next month, he will not be able to feature in tonight's CCL clash with Zamalek, nor any of the other games in this year's edition of the tournament.
The reason for Vilakazi's ineligibility is because he already played in the CAF Confederation Cup for the Clever Boys in the earlier rounds, meaning that he is cup-tied in any other CAF inter-club tournaments for the remainder of this year.
The CAF rules state that, "During the same year a player is in principle only eligible to play for one and the same club in the CAF inter-club competitions. However a player even though registered on the list of a club who has not been fielded in any match of inter-clubs competitions will be authorised to play for another participating club in the inter-clubs competitions during the same year so long as all the regulations are complied with."
Sundowns' league victory in 2015/16 made sure that they secured their spot in the 2017 CCL, however they are on the verge of reaching the semifinals ahead of tonight's clash and will be hoping to go all the way this year.
