Mbabane Highlanders coach welcomes CAF’s nod to Eswatini stadium
Mbabane Highlanders’ coach Seloatse Mosala has welcomed the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s temporary nod for his club to host Royal AM at their actual home of Somhlolo National Stadium in Eswatini next month.
The South African coach tells FARPost that playing at their actual home gives his side an advantage in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first-leg match.
“We have a chance even though they [Royal AM] have better players. We are playing on astroturf,” he said.
Earlier, Mosala told FARPost that his side needs to play at least a friendly with a Motsepe Foundation Championship team in South Africa and then the Charity Cup in Eswatini to be ready for the clash against the Royal AM.
“We will pack it [Somhlolo] with 20,000 fans. We will force a good result at home and manage the game in Durban. What I need between now and then is a competitive game. If we play in the Charity Cup then a friendly in South Africa, then we will be ready,” he said.
The Eswatini top-flight league team looked set to host its matches in neighbouring South Africa while waiting for CAF to certify Somholo National Stadium, which was previously deemed unfit to host international games.
However, Eswatini football association released a statement confirming that CAF had given the nod to the use of the stadium.
“The Somhlolo National Stadium has been temporarily approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host the TotalEnergies interclub preliminary matches,” the statement reads.
Highlanders will face Royal AM at home on the weekend of September 9, followed by the reverse fixture on the weekend of September 16 away in South Africa.
Highlanders recently visited South Africa for pre-season games and played against Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, losing both encounters, which took place in North West Province last month.
The Eswatini side have since bolstered their squad ahead of their participation in the forthcoming domestic Premier League and the 2022-2023 CAF Confederation Cup.
The domestic league in Eswatini is on an off-season break; hence Highlanders have match-fitness issues to sort out with the players.