Royal AM co-coach Abram Nteo has no doubt in his mind that his club will progress to the next round of the Caf Confederation Cup.
The KwaZulu-Natal club drew goalless with Mbabane Highlanders at Somhlolo Stadium in the first leg of the preliminary round of the Confed Cup on Sunday.
Royal AM will host the second leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium at 16:00 on Friday, when they will have to ensure that the game does not end in a score draw or defeat to progress to the next round.
Thwihli Thwahla’s home venue at Chatsworth Stadium has been deemed not fit to meet CAF’s requirements, which is why they have decided to play all their CAF matches at the 2010 World Cup venue.
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“We have to win in Durban, I think the boys will do well in the second leg,” said Nteo who was appointed as the co-coach of the club alongside Dan Malesela and Khabo Zondo at the beginning of the season.
Nteo, who was the club’s assistant coach last term under John Maduka as they finished third in the league to qualify for the competition, added: “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 next weekend’s match we will make sure that is rectified to progress to the next round.”
The venue in Lobamba went through a construction after CAF deemed it not fit to host CAF premier’s club matches last season, leading Eswatini clubs such as Royal Leopards in the same competition in the group stages to play against Orlando Pirates in Nelspruit.
As the first leg was played on the synthetic pitch, it made it difficult for Royal AM players to play their usual game, with the ball bouncing awkwardly for Nteo’s side.
“The ball was moving the way we are not used to,” said Royal AM captain Samuel Manganyi who was sitting alongside his co-coach Nteo in the post-match press conference on Sunday.
“But we cannot blame the pitch. For the fact that it is our first game in CAF Confederation Cup, I think it is a plus for us because we came here and got a draw and going back to Durban, we need to make sure that we win the second leg.”
Nteo will be on the sidelines for the CAF games, as neither Zondo not Malesela have the required CAF licences.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
