3 NEW ‘BIRDS’ FOR SA ’DOWNS CLASH

MBABANE – Eswatini CAF envoys Mbabane Swallows have received a major boost ahead of their TotalEnergies Champions League clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The neighbours will clash on Saturday in the first leg of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League second preliminary round at 8pm. The game will be played at Sundowns’ fortress, Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.After registering 19 players in the first preliminary round, the ‘Birds’ have reportedly been able to add their two Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) imports to the squad. These are former Zambia’s Muza United players, Bobo Angwenga and Grace ‘Skomota’ Masengo. The striker and the midfielder, respectively, were initially ruled out of the first phase due to pending work permits.

attacking

In addition, former Young Buffaloes attacking midfielder Bandile ‘Skosh’ Shabangu has been added. Swallows officially unveiled them on August 29, among other new players successfully registered. However, they were unveiled after the CAF window had already closed. The Caleb ‘No Nonsense’ Ngwenya charges are said to have made a special request to add them ahead of the much-anticipated match against Sundowns. Reached for comment, ‘Birds’ Public Relations Officer (PRO) Knowledge ‘Bhambo’ Ngwenya confirmed the registration of the trio. ‘Bhambo’ stated that it would be up to the technical team to decide whether to travel with them for the CAF campaign or not.

On another note, Ngwenya gave an update on the players who are nursing injuries; he highlighted that the doctors are closely monitoring them. “Our team doctors are still monitoring the injuries of Sizolwethu Shabalala, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Siphosethu Mabilisa and Bongi Magagula,” he said. Shabalala and Mabilisa missed the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup action, while Magagula and Ngwenya played in the tournament. Former Mbabane Highlanders midfielder, Emmanuel Owusu has also been out nursing a knee injury.On the other hand, reports suggest that Mamelodi Sundowns’ Vice-Captain, Ronwen Williams, hopes to be fit ahead of Saturday’s clash. Williams has been out with a shoulder injury since the end of the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, Sundowns announced through their official Facebook page that the game against Swallows will be broadcast live on SABC 3. Gate entry tickets for this match cost E50 and could be purchased via Ticketpro.

Former Sundowns Skipper Hlompho Kekane Hlompho Kekana, on the other hand, emphasised the importance of Sundowns qualifying for the group stage, stating, “It is crucial for us to secure our place in the group stage.” He acknowledged that the team has set a high standard and must perform better than in previous matches. Kekana highlighted the significance of the cup by saying: “This is an important tournament, one that we have previously won.”

adapt

He noted that there have been numerous changes at Sundowns and that the team must adapt to these alterations, ensuring ‘that everything runs smoothly’. Addressing concerns about the team’s scoring ability, Kekana mentioned, “It was a worry that we didn’t score, but the players have been training hard and have addressed this issue.”  He is keenly aware of the history of their opponents, stating: “We know that they are the reigning champions in Eswatini, and we will not underestimate them.”
- Additional information by Sanele Jele)

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: