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‘BIRDS’, ‘WESLIANS’ FOR CAF CHAMPS LEAGUE

25/06/2014 05:07:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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MBABANE – Strong rivals Mbabane Swallows and Manzini Wanderers qualify to take the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League spot left by MTN Premier League champions Royal Leopard.

Leopard, who qualified for the two spots the country has in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup by virtue of being champions of the MTN Premier League and SwaziBank Cup last season, preferred the latter.

Under the circumstances, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League Rules and Regulations provide that the second or third-placed team in the log standings can take the spot if the champions pull out .

Article 6 of the Rules states that: ‘if ‘the champion club is not entered, CAF may accept the engagement of another club belonging to the concerned association from among the first three of the national championship, upon application which shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of the rules of this association and with the present Article’.

In the country’s scenario, Leopard are the past season’s league champions, Swallows are second while Wanderers finished third – either of the latter two can play in the Champions League if they so wish.

Meanwhile, Swallows’ CEO Sibusiso Manana said they were very much aware of the situation and anything was possible. “We know that after Leopard chose the Confederations Cup we qualify as runners-up to play in the Champions League which we’ve been to several times now,” he said.

However, he said because they were still in their off season break the matter would be discussed now that they are back for preseason. On the other hand, Wanderers’ PRO Mduduzi Ginindza said it would help the team develop and expose its players.

“Our directors are working hard to establish a very competitive team and the crop of players they are bringing in deserve that exposure but only the directors can have a say in as far as chances of taking the opportunity are concerned,” he said.

The Weslians’ Managing Director Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila said he was not aware of the CAF rules because they were not league champions.
“CAF would be good but as a team we cannot even start thinking about as we’re not ready. We still have to build our team and also be strong in all aspects like financially, mentally and otherwise,” he said.

He said there was no way they could play in this Champions League for now until they had a competitive team. Efforts to reach the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) failed as his cell phone rang unanswered when sought.