Wits University coach Roger de Sa hoped the sand and surf of Indian Ocean tourist resort Reunion would raise the spirits of the struggling South African football club.
But the poor form which has seen the Johannesburg 'students' go eight league matches without a win carried over to the African Confederation Cup as they slumped 1-0 against international debutants US Sainte-Marienne this weekend.
The first round, first leg encounter in the second-tier African competition on the French-governed island was settled by a Blanchard Dogba goal just before half-time.
Wits have not won in the South African Premiership since overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 last November and squandered a two-goal advantage when falling to Orlando Pirates ahead of the Reunion trip.
It was not the first time a South African club has come a cropper on the island with Sundowns making a shock exit from the African Champions League after crashing 4-2 against Stade Tamponnaise 14 years ago.
The return match will be staged in two weeks at BIDVest Stadium, a homely 5,000 seater close to central Johannesburg and overlooking the highway that links the South African financial hub with Pretoria.
Crisis-torn Young Africans of Tanzania twice had to come from two goals behind to force a 4-4 draw with Ethiopian visitors Dedebit in a Dar es Salaam thriller.
African rookies Dedebit responded to conceding an early goal by scoring thrice before Tanzania national team striker Nurdin Bakari reduced arrears on the stroke of half-time.
Tadele Zerihun made it 4-2 for the Ethiopians on the hour mark and Godfrey Bonny salvaged some pride for the home side by scoring on 78 minutes and equalising with time running out.
Serb coach Kostadin Papic has threatened to quit Young Africans because of salary arrears and bickering officials, and his place on the touchline was taken by Fred Felix.
Cameroon clubs will be reasonably satisfied as second division Fovu Baham built a 2-1 home lead over Burkina Faso military outfit USFA and Tiko United forced a 0-0 draw with DFC Arrondissement in the Central African Republic.
Africa Sports of Ivory Coast, once a continental power with two successes in the African Cup Winners Cup and one in the African Super Cup, saw off Guinean second division side Sequence FC 1-0 in Conakry via a Magloire Kouame goal. – Sapa-AFP