LEOPARD IN MPHIKELELI INJURY SCARE AHEAD OF CAF GAME

MBABANE – CAF Confederations Cup representatives Royal Leopard are rushing against time to have their first choice goalkeeper, Mphikeleli Dlamini, ready for the second leg clash against Petro de Luanda on Sunday.

The national team, Sihlangu goalkeeper suffered a foot injury during their MTN Premier League game against arch rivals Green Mamba at Mhlume Stadium on Saturday. The game ended in a 3-all draw. Dlamini is still part of the 18 players who will travel to Luanda, Angola. Leopard played to a 2-all draw against the Angolans in the first leg match played on March 14 at Somhlolo National Stadium.

Leopard Public Relations Officer (PRO) Frank Hurube confirmed the matter yesterday. In the absence of Dlamini, Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini could be the second choice. The former Mbabane Swallows stopper played the whole duration of the game against Green Mamba on Saturday. “Mphikeleli is the only player who we are currently worried about. He suffered an injury in his foot during the game against Green Mamba and we are hoping he will recover before the game on Sunday. Our medical team is doing all its best to get the player well ahead of the crucial match,” Hurube said.

Leopard will also welcome back their striker Barry Steenkamp who had been out of action for about a month. Steenkamp is expected to be part of the 18 players to go and represent the country in Angola.

“The rest of the players are ready for the war in front of us. We are going to travel with our best team. We are hopeful that the country will be behind us and we hope we are not going to disappoint,” he said.

Leopard shocked South African Absa Premiership side Bidvest Wits in the preliminaries. They turned around a 0-3 deficit and won after penalties at Somhlolo National Stadium.

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