Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
PREMIERSHIP champions Scottland face a defining three-week period in which they play FIVE matches in 19 days, the fifth coming just three days before their CAF Champions League preliminary round, first leg tie tentatively set for neighbouring Botswana.
In a bid to avoid a controversial fixture congestion towards the end of the season, the Premier Soccer League has resolved to have Scottland up to date with their fixtures when they plunge into the CAF Champions League.
This has seen the slotting of their outstanding game against Dynamos and a MatchDay 28 fixture that would have been played on the day they take on Eswatini champions, Nsingizini Hotspurs in the first leg.
Scottland take on coach Norman Mapeza’s former side, FC Platinum in the Chibuku Super Cup first round at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon then face Dynamos in a Premiership top-of-the-table clash at Rufaro Stadium next Wednesday.
On August 22 Scottland travel to Shamva to face former Zimbabwe champions Simba Bhora at Wadzanai Stadium while a Munhumutapa Challenge Cup Round of 16 match follows on the weekend of August 28-30.
They will know their opponents on August 19 when the Round of 16 draw will be conducted in the capital.
Scottland will then return to the Premiership race with a home date against FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium on September 2.
At this stage of the season there will be no easy fixtures, making it a taxing 19-days for Mapeza and his troops as they average a game every four days.
For much of the season so far, Mapeza has chosen to stick to his winning team and with just two defeats so far in the campaign, he has not been pressured to tinker with his line-up.
However, he will not have that same luxury this time around and will have to turn to his ‘reserves’ for some of the assignments given the value attached to the CAF Champions League.
Scottland’s fixtures
Today: vs FC Platinum (Chibuku Super Cup)
August 19: vs Dynamos (Premiership)
August 22: vs Simba Bhora (Premiership)
August 28-30: Munhumutapa Round of 16
September 2: FC Platinum (Premiership)
September 4-6: CAF Champions League
