MBABANE – Eswatini internationals Kwakhe ‘Stopper’ Thwala and Junior ‘Shisa Gesi’ Magagula are targeting lucrative CAF group-stage places with their respective clubs.
Thwala’s Zimbabwean side Scottland are chasing a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stages, while Magagula’s Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) outfit AS Maniema Union are eyeing progression in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Scottland must overcome Angolan giants Petro de Luanda in the second preliminary round, with each club reaching the Champions League group stages guaranteed US$700 000 (more than E11.5 million).
Nicknamed the ‘Mamelodi Sundowns of Zimbabwe’, Scottland eliminated MTN Premier League champions Nsingizini Hotspurs in the previous round. Thwala, who previously played for Nsingizini and Mbabane Swallows, will be hoping to help his new employers advance.
Meanwhile, Magagula is chasing a potential US$400 000 (approximately E6.4 million) group-stage reward with Maniema Union.
The 31-year-old midfielder joined the Congolese outfit in July on a three-year contract and scored in their 2-0 friendly victory over Gabon’s AS Manga Sport on August 25.
Maniema Union received a bye into the Confederation Cup’s second preliminary round and will face Angola’s Kabuscorp Sport Clube do Palanca. The first leg is scheduled for October 16-18, with the return leg set for October 23-25.
Magagula previously faced Maniema Union in the same competition while playing for Royal Leopard.
