Mapeza Sees Chiefs Clash As Crucial CAF Champions League Test

Scottland coach Norman Mapeza believes Sunday’s Toyota Cup clash against Kaizer Chiefs will provide his side with an important test ahead of their CAF Champions League campaign.

The Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions will take on Amakhosi in the third edition of the Toyota Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Scottland secured qualification for this season’s CAF Champions League after winning the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title last term. Their opponents, Chiefs, will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Mapeza believes the encounter will offer his team a valuable opportunity to measure themselves against the Soweto giants as they prepare for continental football.

“We will be playing in the Champions League in a few months, so it will be good for us to play against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday. We also understand that Chiefs will be playing in the Confederation Cup.

“We are ready, and we are looking forward to taking on Chiefs on Sunday. We see this game as part of our preparations for the upcoming Champions League.”

Mapeza said Scottland’s match fitness could prove to be an advantage, with the Zimbabwean league already well underway.

“On our side, our league has been active,” said Mapeza.

“We have played 24 matches so far, while in South Africa most teams are still preparing for the new season. So, from our side, we are not putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure. We simply want to assess how ready we are to compete in the Champions League.

“For Kaizer Chiefs, it may be the opposite because they want to evaluate how their team has performed during pre-season and how prepared they are for the South African Premiership. For us, the focus is more on how we are going to perform in the Champions League.”