Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NORMAN Mapeza feels Scottland’s introduction into the CAF Champions League will not be an EASY assignment after they were drawn against Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini.
They are the same side who knocked out Simba Bhora in the same competition last season.
Scottland will host the first leg scheduled for the weekend of September 4-6.
The return leg is set for the weekend of September 11-13.
Ironically, the Scotts chose Nsingizini for their pre-season friendly and were beaten in Eswatini.
Should they beat Nsingizini, the domestic champions will face either Petro Angola or UD Songo of Mozambique for a place in the group stages of the tournament.
“It’s not going to be easy because Nsingizini Hotspurs are a very good side,” said Mapeza.
“Remember they knocked out Simba Bhora last season.
“They have been doing well in Eswatini. You can see that their football is evolving.
“There are no small teams anymore in Africa.
“We played them in pre-season and we lost but it was more about preparations and we were only two weeks into pre-season.
“It’s not going to be easy. For them to be champions of Eswatini shows they are doing well.
“There is quality in their ranks if you look at the calibre of players they have exported to Zimbabwe, especially to Hardrock and us at Scottland.”
A number of top players from Eswatini, including some of the best from Nsingizini, have moved to Zimbabwean clubs, including Scottland.
They include Newman Philiso (Agama), Kwakhe Twala (Scottland), and the Hardrock quartet of Thubelihle Mavuso, Sizwe Khumalo, Neliswa “Tiger” Dhlamini and Sambulo Simelane.
Scottland secretary-general, Fortune “Giant” Bgwoni, team manager Peter Ndlovu and logistics man Kudza Mangwendese represented the club at the draw in Cairo.
“There are no easy games at this level but we can’t choose our opponents and we have to play the team before us,” said Bgwoni.
“Our mission is to try and go as far as we can in the tournament and that means we have to be at our best.
“We have played them before and it means that we have an idea of how they play.”
Scottland have been dubbed the “Mamelodi Sundowns of Zimbabwe” by some within the Eswatini football family.
“Yes, a lot of football fans here now know a lot about Scottland and Zimbabwean football because a number of Eswatini players are now playing there in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League,” an Eswatini sports journalist said.
“That’s why they feel this is a tricky draw.”
Regardless of the outcome, the Zimbabwean champions are guaranteed US$100,000, even if they are eliminated at the very first hurdle.
The winners of the CAF Champions League will receive US$6 million in prize money.
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns are the reigning African champions after defeating Morocco’s AS FAR in last season’s final.
Scottland are the first Zimbabwean club to move from Division One to the Premiership title and the CAF Champions League in 41 years.
Black Rhinos were the last club to do so when they moved from Division One, won the top-flight league title and played in the then Cup of Club Champions in 1985.
