Chiefs to follow suit with Durban switch

It has emerged that Kaizer Chiefs will be taking their CAF Confederation Cup home match against Zambian club Red Arrows to Durban.

The CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round matches will be played on October 16/18 and 23/25.

For the first leg, it has been confirmed that Chiefs will play Arrows at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia on Saturday, October 17.

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Ndola trip forces League reschedule

This will be 330km away from Arrows' traditional home at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, which doesn't meet the CAF requirements. The confirmation of the date for that fixture means the league match against Stellenbosch — scheduled for the same day at FNB Stadium — will now be moved to October 13.

Home leg headed for Moses Mabhida

Amakhosi will then host the Zambians on October 23/25, with the match now lined up for Moses Mabhida Stadium, likely on Saturday, October 24. Chiefs last played at the picturesque venue on the shoulders of the Indian Ocean in May when they lost to Chippa United.

The Durban stadium is listed amongst the alternative home venues for Amakhosi this season along with Royal Bafokeng and Peter Mokaba Stadium. Circumstances have even forced Chiefs to host Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium.

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Carling Knockout squeezed in between

With Chiefs playing continental football on the weekend of October 23/25, it will then mean their Carling Knockout first round match commitments will be in midweek, just days before the Soweto derby on October 31.

The PSL has reserved Saturday, October 24 for the Carling Knockout last 16 fixtures. For teams involved in CAF competitions, they will then play their games in that competition in midweek — leaving Chiefs with a punishing schedule as they balance domestic and continental commitments.

For teams involved in CAF competitions they will then play their games in that competition in midweek.

Quarterfinals before November break

If they are through to the Carling Knockout quarterfinals, then Chiefs must play that match before the start of the November FIFA dates (November 9-17), with November 7 set aside for the Carling Knockout quarterfinals — cramming yet another fixture into an already congested calendar.

Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images

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Caf Confederation Cup Kaizer Chiefs Fc Moses Mabhida Stadium Red Arrows