Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Scottland are scheduled to fly out to South Africa this morning, believing they can upset Kaizer Chiefs in Sunday’s third edition of the annual Toyota Cup.
The maiden showdown between the two sides is scheduled for Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg.
It is part of the Soweto giants Chiefs’ annual pre-season show-piece that blends football, entertainment, and fan engagement.
For Scottland, it gives them a first test of the kind of opposition they will face when they plunge into the CAF Champions League Cup for the first time in their three-year history.
Mabviravira coach Norman Mapeza is upbeat about the Mabvuku outfit’s chances, citing their competitive match fitness as one of the pillars that could hand them the advantage.
While the domestic Premiership has just gone past its halfway mark, the South African term is only due to start next month, and Chiefs would have to dust the off-season cobwebs.
“We are fully prepared, we are not coming from pre-season, and we have played more than 20 of our league games, which means that in terms of match fitness we are okay,” he said.
“Our opponents are coming from the off-season break, so maybe we might have a slight edge over them in terms of fitness.”
Scottland will boast prolific former Chiefs forwards Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat in their ranks, while the presence of Emmanuel Jalai on loan from Durban City also bolsters the squad. In the domestic league, they top the log standings with 52 points in 24 games after tasting defeat only twice, recording 15 wins while the other games ended in draws.
