Wiliete SC head coach Beto Bianchi has spoken for the first time about the assault he suffered in Lubango, clearing Mamelodi Sundowns and their staff ahead of Friday’s decisive return leg in Pretoria.
Beto Bianchi, Wiliete SC’s head coach, has spoken publicly for the first time about the altercation that took place on 18 October in the tunnel of the Lubango stadium, after the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round against Mamelodi Sundowns (0-0). At his pre-match press conference at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the Brazilian coach condemned a physical assault, according to KickOff and Goal.com South Africa.
“It wasn’t a good situation for football. As professionals of the game, we know there will always be controversy, but they must avoid it getting to the point of assault. It was a nasty assault. I couldn’t even defend myself. It was a ugly attack that targeted the intimate parts of the body,” said Bianchi, quoted by KickOff. Wiliete’s vice-president, Vitorino Vissele, had said the coach had to receive treatment for 30 minutes in an ambulance at the stadium before being hospitalised, SuperSport reports.
Steve Komphela’s version
Steve Komphela, Mamelodi Sundowns’ assistant coach, for his part claims he reacted after being subjected to racist insults in Portuguese and spitting, according to SuperSport.
Wiliete SC have referred the matter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to request disciplinary sanctions, based on the match commissioner’s report, according to SuperSport.
Bianchi clears Sundowns
Despite the seriousness of the events reported, Beto Bianchi was keen to rule out any responsibility on the part of the South African club. “The club, Mamelodi Sundowns, bears no responsibility in this act. Not all members of the Sundowns staff are guilty, it was the case of one person who did not act professionally. For my part, it’s already forgotten, we’re focusing on football,” he said, again according to KickOff.
A calming message echoed by Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns’ head coach, who called for calm at a press conference, believing the incident had received too much attention, according to iDiski Times.
A decisive return leg at Loftus
The return leg, decisive for a place in the 16-team group stage, is played this Friday, 23 October 2026 at 20:00 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, The South African indicates.
The Angolan club are in this campaign after overwhelming Foresters Mont Fleuri of the Seychelles (5-0 on aggregate) in the first round, Afrik-Foot recalls.