SWALLOWS FACE SA PIRATES IN CAF DRAW

MBABANE – It seems CAF Champions League envoys Mbabane Swallows will begin their journey in Africa’s premier club competition against South Africa’s soccer heavyweights Orlando Pirates.

In a repeat of the 2006 preliminary round, the two sides are set to face off in the first hurdle of the 2018-19 CAF interclub tournament between November 27 and December 2 this year. This is according to a draw that was leaked on the official African Soccer Updates site. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was yet to release it on its online media platforms by around 9pm last night. CAF usually delays releasing it sometimes.

The draw was supposed to be released on Saturday following the meeting of the organising committee in Rabat, Morocco.
The leaked draw has 24 pairings that include a match-up between Swallows’ former opponents Nkana FC of Zambia and Rwanda’s APR.

If the leaked draw is anything to go by, then Swallows will want to avenge the 2-7 aggregate loss suffered in the last meeting back in February 2006. The capital city giants had lost 0-5 in the first leg before they forced a 2-all in the return match.

Hard

However, Pirates, who were champions in 2005, could prove a hard nut to crack following their resurgence of late. They were runners-up in 2013.
Swallows, on the other hand, are returning to the tournament for the seventh time and are fresh from a historic group stage finish.
Swallows PRO Jackson Dlamini politely asked to comment on getting an official correspondence on the draw from the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) office.

Also expected are opponents for SwaziBank Cup (now Eswatini) champions Young Buffaloes, who are supposed to play in CAF’s second-tier football tournament styled Confederation Cup. Their opponents were yet to be ascertained by last night.
CAF is also introducing major changes in the inter-club tournaments after the meeting in Rabat.

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