By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Zimbabwean giants Dynamos FC will now host Zesco United in Botswana during their continental date next month after failing to secure a home venue in South Africa.
Dynamos and Zesco will meet in the preliminary stage of the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup over two legs in August.
Zimbabwean teams are unable to host their international matches in their home country because all the venues do not meet CAF stadium requirements.
Dynamos CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze told the Zimbabwe Herald Newspaper that they had opted for Gaborone National Stadium after failing to secure the use of Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg for their CAF Confederation Cup engagements.
“We tried and failed to secure Orlando Stadium in South Africa because the upcoming new season’s fixtures in South Africa are yet to be finalised,” said Mashingaidze.
“So, they couldn’t grant us any stadium because the start of their new season is scheduled for around the same time as our CAF Confederation Cup match.
“So, in terms of fixturing, there were no guarantees that the dates wouldn’t clash.’
“That’s why we ended up running around to secure a venue in Botswana.”
Dynamos are scheduled to host Zesco in the first leg in Gaborone during the weekend of August 16.
Zesco on their part has no CAF stadium inspection headaches and will host Dynamos in the final leg on August 25 at their Levy Mwanawasa Stadium home base in Ndola.
The winner over legs will be away in September’s second round, first leg date against either Foresters of the Seychelles or Orapa United from Botswana.
