The unavailability of direct flights to Algiers, Algeria has forced Supersport United to leave in two separate groups for their crucial African Champions League match against USM Alger on Friday night.
The first group of United players and senior officials left for the North African country on Monday night and the second one departed on Tuesday night.
United coach and former Bafana Bafana player Pitso Mosimane said they wanted to register their first victory in the Champions League Group A at the expense of USM Alger.
The South African side got their group stages campaign off to a disastrous start after suffering a 2-1 defeat by Tunisian giants Esperance in Pretoria two weeks ago.
Mosimane said two players, Mozambican striker Tico Tico Bucuane and defender Mandla Zwane, were doubtful starters for the match which is expected to attract more than 50 000 spectators.
The duo are nursing injuries. Bucuane is one of the new recruits at Supersport after joining them from Jomo Cosmos. He joined the club after his contract with Cosmos expired.
The other new players who were signed by Supersport are Edward Williams from Silver Stars, Tsietsi Mahoa (Wits University) and Dikgang Mabalane (Cosmos).
Supersport are the only South African club who are still competing in the Champions League after Orlando Pirates were eliminated by Bakili Bullets of Malawi in April.
Pirates are the only Southern African club to have won the Champions League, in 1995. – Sapa