Eswatini International player Kwakhe Thwala is set to get a share in the over E2.4 million bonuses showered on his club, Scottland FC.
The ex-Nsingizini Hotspurs player was part of the Norman Mapenza-led side that received a combined E2 464 502 in bonuses by the club President Scott Sakupwanya and Zimbabwe Businessman Joachim Chivayo.
Sakupunya pledged $100 000 equivalent to 1 643 502 while Chivayo donated $ 50 000, which is about E821 000, following the club’s 2-0 home win over Pedro De Luanda in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League first-leg encounter.
Scottland FC now needs a goalless draw against the Angola outfit to advance to the group stages of the continent’s premier club competition.
Thwala could not be reached for comment on the matter when compiling this report.
Meanwhile, DR Congo-based midfielder Junior Magagula AS Union Maniema also recorded a 4-1 win against KuBascorp, also from Angola.
The two players are part of the country’s foreign-based players, which include Lindo Mkhonta (Zesco United, Zambia), Justice Figareido (Chippa United, South Africa), Bandile Shongwe (Ferroviario, Mozambique) and the Botswana-based duo of Banele Ndzabandzaba (Botswana Police XI) and Mxolisi Mkhonto (Botswana Defence Force XI), among others.
The CAF Interclub competitions are Africa’s top two club football tournaments, organised annually by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This is Africa’s elite competition, equivalent to Europe’s UEFA Champions League. Established in 1964, it brings together the league champions from across the continent.
The tournament starts with two home-and-away preliminary rounds. 16 teams then advance to the group stage, divided into four groups. The top two from each group go to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly are the most decorated club with 12 titles, followed by fellow Egyptian side Zamalek and TP Mazembe of DR Congo.
The winner takes home $4 million and qualifies for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Often called Africa’s Europa League, this is the second-tier competition. It was created in 2004 from the merger of the CAF Cup and the African Cup Winners’ Cup.
It features domestic cup winners and league runners-up. Its format mirrors the Champions League: preliminary rounds, a 16-team group stage and a knockout phase.
It is highly competitive and offers a $2 million prize for the winner, who then faces the Champions League winner in the CAF Super Cup to decide Africa’s overall club super champion.
