Hwange’s Caf Confederation Cup second leg, first round football match against Al Amal of Sudan has been moved to Sunday at the Stade Al-Amal Atbara.
The game was initially set for Friday, but Caf wrote to Zifa yesterday confirming the new match day. The coalminers are due to arrive in Khartoum this morning after finally leaving yesterday following visa processing delays. An advance party, led by club secretary Burzil Dube and one Ray Raire from the President’s Office, is already in Khartoum.
NewsDay Sport yesterday morning spoke to Hwange chairman Joseph Zulu who said they were checking in at Harare International Airport, where they were due to fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines plane and connect to Khartoum before flying to Atbara.
“The secretary of the club, Burzil Dube, left yesterday (Monday) with Ray Raire from the President’s Office and the rest of the guys did not travel as the visas from the Sudanese Embassy only came late. We are checking in right now and we will be flying to Addis (Ababa) on Ethiopian Airlines and then connect to Khartoum (Sudan),” Zulu said.
Dube told NewsDay Sport from Khartoum yesterday that Amal would take care of the expenses for the duration of their stay in Sudan even if they exceeded the five-day limit.
Zifa, through communications manager Nicky Dlamini-Moyo, had confirmed that the Hwange delegation was flying out on Monday afternoon and said they had been assured that the team would be safe in civil war-ravaged Sudan.
Speaking before departure, Hwange technical manager Tennant Chilumba said he was worried about his team’s finishing, but the boys had been told to concentrate.
“We are conscious of what lies ahead. We are taking this game seriously. It’s a cup game. It’s open and the better team of the day will win. But if they score, we can score as well,” Chilumba said.
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Hwange were held to a 1-1 draw at the Colliery in the first leg tie on March 25 and they were saved by captain Rodwell Chinyengetere after Al Amal had scored first and played defensive football, employing delaying tactics for the entire match.
Hwange travelled without defenders Munyaradzi Mungadze, who was shown a red card on March 25, and Tonisani Sibelo, who sustained an injury.
They, however, have replacements in former skipper Gerald Ndlovu and Oscar Lungu with the strike force of Allan Tavariswa, Fransisco Zvikumbawire, Gilbert Zulu and Winston Mhango having to pull their stockings away from home.
Hwange have trusted midfielders Chinyengetere, Ocean Mpofu and Nkosana Siwela and the safe hands of goalkeeper Petros Mhari.
