Royal Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula has attributed the Eswatini team’s 2-6 loss to Orlando Pirates on Sunday in a CAF Confederation Cup Group B match to a hostile environment of hosting a match away from home.

Leopard hosted Pirates at Mbombela Stadium in South Africa where some members of Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) staged protests outside the venue calling for leadership change in the kingdom nation.

The hosts’ squad was reportedly forced to use another entry point after the protesters had blocked the main entrance.

SWALIMA is a non-profit organization pushing for the “elimination of the oppressive ESwatini’s absolute monarchical system of governance and replace it with a democratic system.”

Such protests, according to Swazi Times newspaper story quoting the coach, affected the players psychologically.

 “It is a pity that we are playing away from home. Psychologically, the players are suffering because of the things that are happening outside,” he was quoted saying. 

Matsebula added that despite the current hostile situation, they would fight in the group stages, which they reached for the first time.

During the game, the hosts snatched an early 2-0 lead inside the opening eight minutes through Mzwandile Mabelesa and Thabiso Mokeonkoane’s goals.

However, Pirates staged a dramatic comeback by scoring via Kwane Peprah, Happy Jele, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Ayanda Dlamini (double) and Bandile Shandu.

Leopard, who are bottom of the group without a point, will again travel to Mbombela for their third game against Al-Ittihad Tripoli on Sunday.