OVER 5 FRESH ROYAL AM STARS BACK

MBABANE – Mbabane Highlanders must expect a changed Royal AM in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round.

The South African side is set to be joined by its elite players who missed the first leg due to injuries and sickness as reported by the team. They are likely to welcome back majority of their first team players who were not part of the goalless draw on Sunday at Somhlolo National Stadium. Some of the players expected to return to the KwaZulu-Natalbased side include former Orlando Pirates’ Menzi Masuku, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Brazilian player Ricardo Dos Santos Nascimento, Lantshene Phalane, Kabelo Mahlasela, Ruzaigh Gamildien, Mlungisi Sikakane, Tebogo Potsane and Mfundo Thikazi, among others. Royal AM are adamant to turn the tables in the second leg match after this past Sunday’s goalless draw. The game will kick-off at 4pm at the 2010 FIFA World Cup venue, Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Stand-in Coach for ‘Thwihli Thwahla’, as Royal AM are fondly known, Abram Nteo said the game would be a must-win as they wanted to progress to the second preliminary round where they would face Zambia’s Zesco United. According to idiskitimes.co.za, Nteo said they wanted an early goal to kill the game as they did not play at their level best during the goalless draw at Somhlolo National Stadium, due to the high temperatures as they reached about 34 degrees Celsius while the game was played on an artificial turf.

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“We have to win in Durban; I think the boys will do well in the second leg. Yes, they have speedy players, they have good players, especially up front, but it won’t be an issue for us. We have to make sure that we get a goal. In this game, we didn’t play well in terms of creating chances to win. But this weekend’s match we will make sure that it is rectified to progress to the next round,” he said. Meanwhile, Highlanders are sweating over their defender Aristote Tamuzi who suffered a muscle injury in the first leg on Sunday, while midfielder Philani Mkhontfo also had a knock. The club believes that the players will be available for selection.

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