Online Reporter
Noel Munzabwa in Mbabane, Eswatini
SCOTTLAND FC carry more than just a one-goal advantage into today’s CAF Champions League clash against Nsingizini Hotspurs in Eswatini. They also carry the hopes of becoming only the third Zimbabwean club to record a continental victory on Eswatini soil.
The Harare side head into the second leg at Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba with a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg played in Harare last Sunday. Victory or progression would not only secure a place in the next round of Africa’s premier club competition but would also see Scottland follow in the footsteps of Black Rhinos and FC Platinum, the only Zimbabwean clubs to have won away matches against Eswatini opposition in CAF competitions.
History offers encouragement for Mabviravira.
Only a handful of Zimbabwean clubs have faced Eswatini teams in continental football and even fewer have emerged victorious away from home. Black Rhinos achieved the feat in 1985 during their maiden African campaign, while FC Platinum repeated it in 2012.
Interestingly, both clubs were making their first appearances in continental football, a similarity Scottland will hope proves significant as they seek to write their own chapter in Zimbabwean football history.
Black Rhinos, then known as Chauya Chipembere, qualified for the African Cup of Champions Clubs after winning the Zimbabwe league title in their debut top-flight season. FC Platinum earned their place after finishing runners-up to Dynamos.
The most recent Zimbabwean club to beat an Eswatini side away from home in continental football was FC Platinum under the late Rahman Gumbo. On 19 February 2012, the Zvishavane side defeated Green Mamba 4-2 in Eswatini.
Former Warriors striker Donald Ngoma scored twice, while Allan Gahadzikwa and Ali Sadiki also found the net. Green Mamba’s goals came from Welile Maseko and Mcebo Mdluli.
FC Platinum went on to complete an emphatic 8-2 aggregate victory after winning the second leg 4-0 at Mandava Stadium.
There is another interesting link to Scottland’s current campaign. Gumbo, who guided FC Platinum to that memorable win, was a teammate of Scottland coach Norman Mapeza and team manager
Peter Ndlovu in Zimbabwe’s celebrated Dream Team era under Reinhard Fabisch.
Black Rhinos’ victory over Mbabane Highlanders in 1985 remains another landmark result for Zimbabwean football. The army side won the first leg 1-0 before securing a 3-1 away victory in the second leg for a 4-1 aggregate triumph.
While the identities of the goalscorers from that match are not fully preserved in available records, key attacking figures in the Black Rhinos squad included Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Stanford Ndunduma, Jerry Chidawa and Maronga “Bomber” Nyangela.
Of particular significance to Scottland supporters is the similarity between their current position and Black Rhinos’ situation in 1985.
Like Mabviravira, Black Rhinos travelled to Eswatini with a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg before completing the job away from home.
That piece of history will no doubt inspire the hundreds of Scottland supporters expected to follow the team to Lobamba or cheer them on from home.
Among Zimbabwean clubs, FC Platinum hold the record for the most dominant aggregate result against Eswatini opposition, their 8-2 triumph over Green Mamba standing as the benchmark.
Black Rhinos’ 4-1 aggregate victory ranks second, while other encounters have been far more closely contested.
