Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda in MBABANE, Eswatini
Nsingizini Hotspurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
(Scottland win 1-0 on aggregate)
“TACTICAL, tactical, tactical” was how Scottland coach Norman Mapeza explained his approach, as the former Zimbabwe skipper made multiple changes to his starting line-up for yesterday’s CAF Champions League first preliminary round, second-leg clash against Eswatini’s Nsingizini yesterday.
The veteran gaffer made five changes to the side that secured a narrow 1-0 first leg advantage at the National Sports Stadium last week.
Scottland have enough depth in their squad.
Despite the huge changes, the Zimbabwe champions were still strong enough to hold off their hosts at Somhlolo in Mbabane, cantering to a goalless draw.
Mapeza tinkered with his defence, leaving out Peter Muduhwa, Khwake Twala and Emmanuel Jalai (injury).
Mapeza also benched star player Khama Billiat and winger Panashe Mutimbanyoka.
Instead, he sent into battle Al-Ameen Tijani, Issaka Mohamed, Nickson Nyasulu, Neville Tengeg and handed Seth Patrick his debut for Mabviravira.
The move seemed to have caught Nsingizini by surprise as Scottland were more compact throughout the match.
They could have won it had Tengeg not headed over a cross by Mtokozisi Msebe in the second half.
“That’s why we are here as coaches,” said Mapeza.
“There is no perfect game in this world. The guys worked so hard, and the credit should go to them.”
Scottland will now face Petro de Luanda in the second preliminary round after the Angolan side overcame UD Songo of Mozambique 3-2 on aggregate yesterday.
Petro de Luanda carried a 1-0 aggregate going into yesterday’s return leg in Luanda, which ended 2-all.
“Like I said, we came here looking for two results, a draw and a win,” said Mapeza.
“But the guys worked so hard today, they worked so hard. For us, we just have to take each game as it comes.”
The Zimbabwe champions could have snatched a win.
Cameroonian striker Tengeg was found unmarked inside the box by Msebe, but he inexplicably headed over in the 65th minute.
Mohamed also hit the side net early in the first half.
That shot tore the nets, forcing a stoppage of about six minutes.
With the result, Scottland edged closer to a maiden spot in the CAF Champions League group stage phase.
They would, however, have to clear the next hurdle posed by Petro de Luanda in the second preliminary round in order to join the tournament’s big boys in the lucrative group stage.
Yesterday’s result also left Nsingizini Hotspurs coach Mandla Qoghi with egg on his face.
After last week’s first leg, Qoghi warned Scottland, advising them to call Simba Bhora who were knocked out by Nsingizini in the first preliminary round last season.
Simba Bhora won the first leg 1-0 before Nsingizini responded with the same win, forcing the game into penalties which the Eswatini side won 4-2.
But Scottland proved a different proposition.
At the end of the game, Qhogi saluted Mapeza.
“I would say it’s a good strategy from the coach (Mapeza),” he said. “He managed to change around about five players from the last starting line-up.
“And he came with another plan of sitting deep and trying to catch us on the counter.
“We tried to manage that and tried to make sure that we had numbers to go and score, but with the reinforced defence, it was slightly difficult.”
Nsingizini had a few chances, with Quality Dhlamini showing the same quality that he displayed at the National Sports Stadium last weekend.
“I think the boys gave a very good shift,” said Qhogi. “I think the Swati nation must be proud of these boys.
“Whatever effort they put, they showed that they represented the country very well.
“It’s unfortunate that we are out of the tournament, but we are looking forward to the league that is going to start soon.
“If we had more minutes in our legs, I think we could have done better in the two games that we’ve played.”
While Scottland have already played 28 games in the league, the Eswatini Premier League is yet to kick off.
Mabviravira now shift focus to the Chibuku Super Cup in which they play Hardrock in the quarter-final at Rufaro on Wednesday.
They are expected to leave Eswatini today.
Mapeza has to manage his players in terms of fatigue.
“(On) Monday we meet for the recovery session. (On) Tuesday, we are in camp and (on)Wednesday, we have a cup game,” he said.
“So, the fixtures have not been good to us, but we have to manage the situation. Some guys who didn’t play today, they will play on Wednesday.
“They will play on Wednesday because we have to keep managing our squad.”
In the end, it was all jubilation for the band of Scottland fans who travelled all the way from Harare, courtesy of club president Pedzai “Scott’’ Sakupwanya.
When keeper Nelson Chadya latched on to a corner kick and dived to the ground before Malagasy referee Andrisoa Arnaud Zafimahatoha blew the final whistle, Scottland had kept their Champions League dream alive.
TEAMS
Nsingizini Hotspurs
Thabo Dhlamini, Sinenkosi Dhlamini, N. Shongwe, V. Macina, L. Nhlenghetwa, B. Dhlamini (M. Zwane, 78), M. Mthethwa (M. Hlatshwako, 74), P. Mangaliso, N. Mazibuko, Q. Dhlamini, S. Masuku
Scottland
- Chadya, K. Moyo, I. Mohamed, N. Nyasulu, A. Tijani, M. Shidolo (P. Muduhwa, 90+4), A. Moffat, S. Patrick (K. Mureremba, 80), M. Msebe, W. Musona (K. Twala, 80), N. Tengeg (K. Billiat , 68)
