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FIXTURE CONGESTION FOR ‘BUFFS’, ‘BIRDS’ IN CAF

26/07/2018 02:43:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – CAF continental envoys, Mbabane Swallows and Young Buffaloes, will have it tough this season.

The two sides are set to represent the country in the CAF Champions League (Swallows) and the CAF Confederations (Buffaloes) by virtue of being winners of the MTN Premier League and the SwaziBank Cup, respectively.

This comes after the Confederations of African Football (CAF) released the new dates for the upcoming continental tournaments. The tournaments will now be played from August through to May next year, following the same schedule as most of the major African leagues, including those of the country and also that of the European club competitions.

The switch will be made later this year with the 2018-19 edition of both competitions kicking off in November, just weeks after the previous edition is concluded and the 2018 champions have been crowned.

CAF is squeezing two preliminary rounds in before Christmas and will start the group phase of the Champions League in January.
This will be the same time that the two teams will be competing in the MTN Premier League and the Ingwenyama Cup. If they progressed, they will have to do with the inclusion of the SwaziBank Cup starting early next year with the CAF tournaments.

In the past, the CAF tournament were played within a calendar year.
The 2018 Champions League winner will not be able to take part in the early stages but shoot straight to the group stages because they will be off representing Africa at the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates from December 12-22.
CAF General Secretary Amr Fahmy said Champions League matches are reserved for Fridays and Saturdays only, while midweek games may only be scheduled on a Tuesday.
The CAF Confederation Cup games can only be played on a Sunday and Wednesday, to ensure there is no overlap between the two competitions. This year’s edition will start late November. Both teams are yet to confirm their participation in the tournaments.