Mozambique football star Elias Pelembe is set to face off against Green Mamba in the CAF Confederation Cup. After a successful 16-year career in the South African Premier Soccer League, Pelembe recently left Royal AM at the end of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season. Green Mamba will be competing against Pelembe’s team, UD Songo, in the first preliminary round of the Confederation African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup next month. The winner of this match will advance to face Angolan side Petro Athletico in the subsequent round.
During his time in South Africa, Pelembe achieved great success, winning four league titles and making 300 appearances in the Premiership. He played for notable clubs such as Supersport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits, and most recently, Royal AM, where he contributed three goals and four assists in 29 appearances. Pelembe’s signing by UD Songo is seen as a boost to their upcoming CAF Champions League campaign.
UD Songo also boasts other talented players, including Malawian central midfielder John Banda, right-back Bheu Januario, and Rwandan Abeddy Biramahire. In fact, UD Songo has a squad comprising 12 national team players, including Lau King, Frank Banda, Leonel Mario Pendula, Pascoal Amorim, and Mustafa Arnaldo. Team veteran Lawrence Mncina expressed confidence in their abilities, stating that they were not afraid of any opponent. The inclusion of Pelembe in the team is seen as an advantage, as they have witnessed his performance in the South African Premier Soccer League.
Former club captain Banele ‘Makonese’ Dlamini admitted that it was challenging to assess the strength of the Green Mamba team since they were unfamiliar with them. He mentioned that the coaching staff would conduct extensive research to gather information about their opponents and develop a suitable game plan.
The upcoming clash between Green Mamba and UD Songo promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams vying for a place in the CAF Confederation Cup. The presence of Elias Pelembe adds an extra layer of intrigue to the fixture, as the Mozambican star seeks to guide his team to the coveted group stages of the CAF Champions League. Football fans can expect a highly competitive match between these two talented sides.
