By 
By Chris Dlamini
For the second year running, the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup spot could be up for the taking.
This is most likely to happen if Ingwenyama Cup newly crowned champions Royal Leopard go on to win the MTN Premier League. The police ensemble is currently two points clear at the summit of the league standings. Only eight games remain before the season ends.
It is no secret that Ingwenyama Cup runners-up Moneni Pirates had aimed for the CAF Confederation Cup ticket but failed to beat Leopard in the Cup final to earn the spot which is reserved for Cup champions.
However, the engagement rules of the interclub second-tier tournament still allow runners-up in, but only if the Cup champions renounce their participation or opt for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League in the event the same team wins both.
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It happened last season that Mbabane Swallows won the league, and Green Mamba won the Ingwenyama Cup while also finishing as runners-up in the league. Swallows were also runners-up in the Ingwenyama Cup, while Mbabane Highlanders finished as semi-finalists. The latter showed interest and expressed it with the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), whileNsingizini Hotspurs also did the same after finishing third in the league, a position they currently occupy.
The present regulations allow it in the event Moneni also declined participation as a runner-up. Worthy of note is that the Ingwenyama Cup was announced as the automatic ticket holder to the CAF Confederation Cup before the last 32 last season. It is not clearly stated in the Cup rules, even this season, if it still holds that ticket, but it is believed nothing will change given its magnitude.
Also, the EFA, in consideration of the tournament rules and regulations, gave the spot to Nsingizini. However, this time, the difference may be Leopard winning both tournaments to the CAF Interclub Continental competitions as they are now eyeing the league.
The CAF Confederation Cup rules on the engagement of clubs put it clearly what should happen if Leopard manages to lift the league title and move on to pick the Champions League.
Article 4, (2) provides that ‘If a federation is entitled to one club, the National Cup winner will be engaged to CAF Confederation Cup. If the National Cup winner of a federation cannot be engaged in the CAF Confederation Cup for various reasons, the Interclubs Committee reserves the right to accept the runner-up of the Cup by virtue of an application to be submitted in accordance with the regulations of the federation and/or the present regulations.
Meanwhile, before a participating club is entitled to any finance from the CAF, the application from the federation or association must be accompanied by a US$300 (E5 799.57) and addressed to be paid in favour of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Such application, by Moneni it would be expected if Leopard are crowned league champions and opt for the big boys’ tournament, must reach CAF the Competition Management System (CMS) no later than June 30 of the year of the start of the competition, which is August this year.
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With the regulations quite straightforward, Moneni President Thulani Xaba’s ambition to take the Buccaneers to Africa lives on. It is only if Leopard fails to win the league that Moneni cannot get the spot or if Leopard does win the league but prefers the Confederation Cup.
The Ingwenyama Cup champions, Leopard are said to be focused on the title run-in, and a close source said they were going to cross the bridge when they got to it.
Meanwhile, Moneni’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Meluleki ‘Sluga’ Simelane said the president gave them three years to qualify for the continental interclub competitions, and they were determined.
“It’d be a great benefit for us if it happens now. We had hoped to qualify as champions, but we’re aware there’s still a chance even as runners-up. If we can do well in that tournament, we know there’s also over E7 million for reaching the group stage,” he said.
He said there was a lot to benefit in the tournament as it paid close to E1 million in the preliminary round.
“Otherwise, we’re in competition in the league until the end when the PLE gives us the final log standings,” said Simelane.
He said they were ready for Swallows on Sunday in the league and were boosted by the return of gifted midfielder Lindani ‘Rio’ Matsenjwa from a two-match suspension.
