MOROKA Swallows will use the game against German Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg next week to start their preparations for the African Confederation Cup.

MOROKA Swallows will use the game against German Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg next week to start their preparations for the African Confederation Cup.

This Volkswagen Challenge Trophy will take place on Monday at the new Nelson Mandela Sports Complex in Port Elizabeth, one of the 10 venues for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Kickoff is at 7pm.

Swallows brand manager Siyabonga Sangweni said: "Our players are coming back from their festive season holidays this weekend to prepare for the Germans.

"We could not have asked for a more suitable way of preparing for the Confederation Cup than play the reigning German champions."

The Dube Birds, whose German coach Rainer Zobel's future is hanging in the balance after a string of poor results, have been drawn against Pamplemousses of Mauritius in the continental competition.

The first round of this yearly Confederation of African Football contest will start in February, with Swallows playing away in the first leg.

"We have signed several new players, so the game against VfL Wolfsburg will also help us a great deal in exposing our players to the international arena," Sangweni said.

Said Swallows' right-back Vincent Kobola: "We are excited to play against a top soccer team of VfL Wolfsburg's calibre.

"It's a great way of keeping the players in shape because the Premiership season is on hold until February to accommodate the African Cup of Nations in Angola."

Wolfsburg's visit is a reciprocation of the trip by Swallows to Germany in 2007 when the Birds held a training camp in Hanover. Swallows won that match 1-0.

Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh said he was looking forward to the trip.

"We have heard a lot about the hospitality and great weather conditions and the team cannot wait to experience all this," Veh said.