Times Of Swaziland: FANELO RETURNS TO FACE SAGRADA

FANELO RETURNS TO FACE SAGRADA
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BY MACHAWE FAKUDZE on 13/10/2021 08:17:00


MBABANE – Royal Leopard will be boosted by the return of influential
midfielder Fanelo Tsabedze on their CAF assignment against Angolan side Sagrada
Esperanca.
This was confirmed by Ingwe Mabalabala award-winning coach Edwin Matsebula that
the player was ready for selection. He also said preparations were going well as
no player had injuries ahead of their departure to Angola. “The preparations
are going well so far and I have a full squad with no one injured. I will be
spoilt for choice to select the 18 players that will make the trip to Angola,”
Matsebula said.
The former Vovovo mentor said Tsabedze, who missed the first preliminary games
against ZESCO United, had fully recovered from his injury. The player was not
part of the squad that eliminated Zambia’s ZESCO United from the continent’s
biggest club competition. Leopard whacked Zega Mambo as ZESCO is known in
football circle 1-0 in a game that was played at Mavuso Sports Centre; the
Zambians turned the tables on their backyard.
Progressed
However, the police side won on the away-goal rule after the 2-2 aggregate
score. The Edwin Matsebula-coached side advanced to the next stage of the
preliminary rounds on an aggregate score of 2-2 but progressed through the away
goal rule to set a date with the Angolans. Royal Leopard Secretary General
Mabamba Mkwanazi also shared the same sentiments as those of Matsebula that
preparations were going well. He also confirmed that the team would depart for
Angola tomorrow.
He said all the players were ready for selection. “You can confirm that with
the coach but there are a few  who were carrying minor knocks, the coach is the
one who can give you a full update on the players. I can only confirm to you
that we are leaving on Thursday,” Mkwanazi said. Leopard will leave with their
heads high after winning both their preparatory games against South African side
Nyamazane All Stars and Sivutsa over the weekend. Ingwe Mabalabala won both
games 3-1.
Meanwhile, Sagrada Esperenca will go to this encounter with their spirits also
high after winning the Angolan Super Cup after they beat Petro de Luanda 4-3 in
penalty shoot-outs following a 0-0 draw in the regulation time.