Soweto giants await identity of opponents

Both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will belatedly find out the identity of their next opponents on Saturday.

There is a chance both will take on opposition from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round of their respective competitions.

An impasse over the identity of the Congolese representatives in this season’s continental competitions delayed the ties involving their teams, which has meant the two Soweto giants have had to wait to see who they next play.

Pirates, who easily overcame Lioli from Lesotho 7-0 on aggregate in the Champions League first round, take on either St Eloi Lupopo from Lubumbashi or the Sudanese club Al Merrikh.

The first leg of their tie was played last weekend in Lubumbashi and saw the host score a narrow 1-0 home win with a late goal from Jonathan Mokonzi.

The return leg is at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, Libya, on Saturday. Al Merrikh are forced to play their home matches in neutral venues because of the civil conflict in Sudan.

Chiefs, who had a narrow penalty shootout victory over Kabuscorp of Angola in their Confederation Cup first round tie, take on either AS Simba from Kolwezi or Djabal from the Comoros.

Djabal also do not have a suitable home venue in the Comoros, so have elected to play both the home and away leg in the Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi. Lubumabshi.

Last Sunday was Simba’s home leg, and they only won 1-0, giving Djabal hopes of an upset comeback. Simba’s own home ground in Kolwezi was not passed for use in international fixtures, so they are forced to play some 300km from their home.