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ETOILE A MOUNTAIN FOR BUFFALOES

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MBABANE – It can be likened to the Goliath vs David Bible story.

That is the match between army side Young Buffaloes and Tunisia’s giants Etoile du Sahel this afternoon in the CAF Confederation Cup playoff first leg. 

Goliath is described in the biblical Book of Samuel as a Philistine giant defeated by the young David in single combat. The visitors will be a hard nut to crack for Buffaloes as they are five time winners of the tournament.

Etoile du Sahel have been active since the beginning of the year, winning five matches  running including their domestic league games while Buffaloes only played one match in the New Year. It was the 4-1 loss against AS Vita in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round on January 6. 

 

preparations

It’s not been good preparations for Buffaloes as they were only allowed to resume training a fortnight ago due to the sports suspension in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will have to dig deep into their reserves of courage if they are to come up with positive results.

 

football ladder

In some quarters, the match was described as a match for the romantics, with Buffaloes and Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia inhabiting far apart rungs of the African football ladder. Buffaloes is ranked among the also-rans on the continent and qualified for the play-offs despite not winning any of the four matches in the Champions League before dropping to the Confederation Cup.

Etoile are the only club to have won all five current and former CAF competitions and nine titles place them fourth behind Ahly, Egyptians Zamalek and TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo among the most successful.

Buffaloes who are led by coach Sabelo Mnisi have the capabilities of pulling off positive results through their experienced players and the home ground advantage. Mnisi will rely on the likes of striker Phiwa Dlamini, Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba, Sandile Gamedze, goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu, Siboniso Mamba and Sihlangu Mkhwanazi among others to be at their best on the day.

 

boast of top players

Etoile du Sahel boast of top players in the likes of Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly and  Ayoub Ayed among others. 

Buffaloes will be travelling for the second leg match billed for February 21 away in Tunisia. The army side can be the second team in the country to reach the CAF Confederation Group Stages if they can win against the experienced Tunisian side after Mbabane Swallows.

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