MBABANE – Scottland FC supporters are set to descend on Eswatini in numbers on Saturday.
Club owner Pedzai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya has reportedly provided about ten buses for their trip to Somhlolo National Stadium.
According to Lerroy Willie Sports, the development was confirmed to the publication by Scottland FC Supporters’ President Edith ‘Gettie’ Majama, who expressed gratitude to Sakupwanya for the gesture.
The travelling supporters will be in Eswatini to back the Zimbabwean champions when they face Nsingizini Hotspurs in the TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary round second leg.
Dubbed the ‘Mamelodi Sundowns of Zimbabwe’, Scottland carry a slender 1-0 advantage into the return leg after defeating the Eswatini champions at the National Sports Stadium in Harare last Sunday.
Nsingizini were reduced to ten men as early as the third minute when defender and Captain Kingsley Kwakyi received a straight red card for a challenge on Moses Shidolo.
Despite playing virtually the entire match with ten men, the Eswatini champions remained organised until Scottland substitute Neville Tengeg broke the deadlock in the 66th minute.
Nsingizini head coach Mandla Qhogi questioned the decision to dismiss Kwakyi so early, arguing that a yellow card would have been sufficient. However, Qhogi remains confident his side can overturn the deficit on home soil, particularly with eleven players available from the start.
Nsingizini can also draw confidence from their previous meeting with a Zimbabwean club, Simba Bhora, in last season’s CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Simba Bhora won the first leg 1-0 in Botswana before Nsingizini levelled the tie with a 1-0 victory in the return match. The tie went to a penalty shootout, with Nsingizini prevailing 4-2 to advance.
Meanwhile, Scottland coach Norman Mapeza remains cautious despite his team’s advantage, warning that the job is only half done.
Mapeza admitted his side failed to capitalise fully on their numerical advantage, particularly during a sluggish first-half performance.
Nsingizini must win by at least two clear goals to secure progression without the tie going to extra time. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, September 12.
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