Mbabane Swallows Football Club of Swaziland are hopeful their skipper, Tony Tsabedze will return in time for the CAF Champions League preliminary round return leg encounter against APR FC due this Saturday in Kigali.

According to a statement released by the clubs’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sibusiso Manana, a medical team is working on the club’s most influential player, who has been out of action for the last two months with an ankle injury.

"We are patiently waiting for our captain (Tony Tsabedze) to return and he will be back in time (for the game against APR),” reads the statement in part.

The Swaziland champions, nicknamed the ‘Birds’, have recently welcomed back defenders Sifiso Mabila and Colani ‘Tyson’ Magagula from injuries.

The ‘Birds’ are expected to be on the plane to Kigali with Nabulo Ndlovu who sustained a groin injury in Sunday’s derby against rivals Mbabane Highlanders.

Mbabane will arrive in Kigali with a 30-man envoy including 19 players and officers. They are expected to depart the country’s capital city on Thursday enroute to Kigali.

Mbabane Swallows carry a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg encounter played on February 14 at Somhollo National Stadium. Striker Wilson Sabelo Ndzinisa scored the only goal of the game in the 25th minute.

The winner between the two sides will face the winner between Tanzania champions, Young Africans and Cercle Joachim of Mauritius in the next round. Already Young are one foot into the first round of the CAF Champions League, after their 1-0 away win.

They will need a draw of any kind in their return leg match to be staged at Dar es Salaam if they are to progress into the first round of the continental top tier club championship.

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