Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
SCOTTLAND star right-back Emmanuel Jalai says the Zimbabwean champions are not taking Nsingizini Hotspurs coach Mandla Qhogi’s warning lightly as they prepare for the Caf Champions League preliminary round second-leg clash at Somhlolo National Stadium on Saturday.
Mabviravira edged 10-man Nsingizini 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday, with Jalai providing the assist for Cameroonian striker Neville Tengeg’s winner. However, visiting coach Mandla Qhogi issued a stern warning after the match.
“I’ll ask them (Scottland) to call Simba Bhora and ask them for a plan, because we’re not going to be an easy game. We stand a chance. The game is open, we can still score more goals,” warned Qhogi.
Nsingizini eliminated Scottland’s predecessors, Simba Bhora, from the Caf Champions League last season, winning 4-2 on penalties after the two-legged preliminary-round tie ended 1-1 on aggregate.
Jalai, who was recruited for high-profile matches of this nature, acknowledged that the Eswatini champions could prove a formidable opponent but expressed confidence in Scottland’s ability to progress.
The Zimbabweans could have won by a wider margin at the National Sports Stadium, where Jalai was influential down the right flank and helped create several attacking opportunities.
“It’s going to be a tough game because they will come all out on us. But, we are Scottland, we are the Zimbabwean champions so we have to prove that by qualifying for the next round. We have to fight until the last drop of blood, we have to do our best to raise the Zimbabwean flag higher.
“We are obliged to repay the investment by the club owners and sponsors,” Jalai told Zimpapers Sports Hub from Johannesburg, where Scottland are camped ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
Thanks to club owner Scott Sakupwanya’s financial backing, Scottland’s players head into the return leg highly motivated.
In addition to holding their pre-match camp in South Africa, the players also received US$100 000 from businessman Wicknell Chivayo following last weekend’s victory at the National Sports Stadium.
The match marked an emotional return of international football to the giant facility. The last international match at the National Sports Stadium was played on November 14, 2021, when Zimbabwe drew 1-1 with Ethiopia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
“It was a great feeling, especially playing on home soil, after a long period of time. It was a great atmosphere,” said Jalai.
The former Dynamos captain admitted Nsingizini posed challenges because of their tactical approach in the first leg.
“Playing a low block team is always difficult, so we had to be patient in the final third. But, credit goes to the guys for pushing extra hard for us to get the win and also keeping a clean sheet,” said Jalai.
Scottland are expected to arrive in Eswatini ahead of Friday’s official training session, when they will get a feel of the turf at Somhlolo National Stadium.
