Mukura VS defender David Nshimirimana seen in celebration with his team mates after scoring the lone goal of the game on Wednesday at Stade Huye
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed match officials who will handle Mukura VS’ Total Confederation Cup first round matches against Al Hilal El Obeid.
The first leg match will be played on Saturday, December 15 at El Obeid/El Obeid Stadium with kick-off set from 18H30.
South Sudanese referee Ring Nyier Akech Malong will be the center referee. He will be assisted by Gasim Madir Dehiya as the first assistant referee, (Sudan) (Rwanda), George Primato Oliba will be the second assistant referee while Alier Michael James is the reserve referee.
Muhsin Ali Rajab from Zanzibar has been appointed as the match commissioner of the first leg tie.
The return leg which is slated to be held between December 21-23 will be handled by match officials from E-Swatini, formely known as Swaziland.
Thulani Sibandze will be the center referee and he will be assisted by Sifiso Nxumalo as the first assistant referee, Zamani Thula Simelane will be the second assistant referee while Mbongiseni Elliot Fakudze will be the reserve referee. The match commissioner will be Joseph Nkole from Zambia while the Referee Assessor is Andriamparany Lova Rakotoarimanana from Madagascar.
The Huye-based side is expected to jet out to Sudan mid this week after their Azam Rwanda Premier League encounter against Espoir Fc which is set to be played on Tuesday.
On Saturday, Christophe Ndayishimiye scored the lone goal as Mukura Victory Sports beat AS Muhanga at Huye Stadium to unseat reigning champions APR FC as table leaders of the Azam Rwanda Premier League.
Mukura VS led by Burundian coach Christian Francis Haringingo secured a slot to the round of 32 after beating South Africa’s Free State Stars 1-0 in the return-leg clash of the preliminary round at Huye Stadium last week. The two sides had played out a goalless draw in the first-leg in Johannesburg.
Haringingo is adamant that his men will be up for the task when they face Al Hilal in Sudan on December 14, in the first-leg, before hosting them a week later in the decisive encounter.
“It is a tough challenge ahead of us, but so was the Free State Stars. Sometimes it is not about your opponents but rather about how you prepare for them,” said Haringingo.
“We are happy to go past the preliminary round, now it’s time to focus on the next round. There is no time to relax, and my players know that better than anyone else. We are going to continue training and learn about more about Al Hilal and their game.”
Mukura VS is back in the competition after an 18-year hiatus – the first time since 2000 – when they got eliminated from the first round by Ethiopia’s Awassa City FC 2-1 on aggregate score.
