Wiliete SC coach Beto Bianchi hospitalised after clash with Sundowns assistant

Wiliete SC coach Beto Bianchi was taken to hospital following an alleged assault after his side’s goalless draw with Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie in Angola.

Bianchi was reportedly involved in a confrontation with Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela during the match, with a member of the South African club’s technical team alleged to have assaulted the Wiliete coach.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and further details about what led to the confrontation have yet to emerge.

Bianchi reportedly sustained injuries during the incident and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

The Wiliete coach was absent from the post-match press conference, where his assistant confirmed that he had been hospitalised.

The incident overshadowed a tightly contested encounter in which neither side managed to find the breakthrough, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg.

Sundowns, one of South Africa’s leading clubs and regular contenders in African club competitions, will host the Angolan side in the second leg this weekend as both teams battle for a place in the next round of the competition.

The return fixture is expected to be crucial for both sides, with Sundowns looking to capitalise on home advantage while Wiliete aim to build on their defensive performance in the first meeting.

However, attention will also be on the circumstances surrounding Bianchi’s reported injuries and whether further information will emerge about the alleged incident involving members of the two technical teams.

No further details about Bianchi’s condition or any potential disciplinary action had been confirmed in the information available at the time of writing.