Sundowns train with Kaizer Chiefs’ Kappa ball, but is it unusual?

Mamelodi Sundowns are preparing for their Saturday’s visit to the FNB Stadium where they will face Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership.

Kick-off is at 15:00.

And in preparation for that match, the Brazilians were pictured conducting their training sessions using Amakhosi’s Kappa ball.

But is this something unusual or is there anything wrong with what Sundowns did?

This piece answers that question…

Also read: Kaizer Chiefs without EIGHT top stars for Sundowns clash

SUNDOWNS USE KAIZER CHIEFS’ KAPPA BALL FOR TRAINING, BUT IS IT WRONG?

The Kappa ball is Chiefs‘ official match ball for all their home games, and the ball is custom-branded and FIFA-approved.

What this means is that the Kappa ball is not exclusive to their training sessions only as opposition will still get to use it on matchday.

Now, when Sundowns or any team prepares to face Chiefs at their home ground, using their official match ball is standard practice.

Also read | Miguel’s warning to Sundowns: We are Kaizer Chiefs, we fear no one!

A visiting team is more than allowed to train with the home’s official match ball or anything equivalent days before the actual match is NOT unusual.

This is to allow players to get used to its flight, weight, and bounce ahead of kick-off, and as things stand, there is no existing PSL rule that prohibits the visiting team from using the home side’s official ball.

In fact, experts describe this as proper and good preparation, and it would have been ignorant of Sundowns not do so given the magnitude of this fixture.

Also read: Fernando da Cruz reunites two youngsters at Kaizer Chiefs