Ex-Orlando Pirates coach set to face Tanzanian giants in CAFCL | OneFootball

Former Pirates coach to battle Tanzanian heavyweights in Champions League

Photo: Nsingizini Hotspurs

South African coach Mandla Qhogi and his team Nsingizini Hotspurs are set to take on Tanzanian giants Simba SC in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round.

The Eswatini champions will host the Tanzanians in the first meeting on Sunday, 19 October, while the return leg is scheduled for Sunday, 26 October at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Qhogi's troops beat Zimbabwean giants Simba Bhora via a penalty shootout to set up a meeting with Simba, who advanced at the expense of Botswana's Gaborone.

For Spurs, the tie is an opportunity to gauge their progress against a formidable opponent, having bowed out in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary stage at the hands of Stellenbosch FC of South Africa last season.

Meanwhile, the former Orlando Pirates development coach took over the reins in May after leaving Motsepe Foundation Championship side Milford FC.

He has already won his first piece of silverware at the helm as he guided the Eswatini giants to glory in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup last month.

In addition to serving in Pirates' youth structures, Qhogi worked with first team strikers under coach Augusto Palacios, who was the interim boss when the Buccaneers won the league during the 2011/12 campaign.

The highly rated tactician also held posts as an assistant coach at Sekhukhune United Dstv Diski Challenge (DDC) team, before eventually leading the team as the head coach.