… ready for Amakosi
WINDHOEK – With matches in the preliminary round of this year’s 18th edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League starting early next month, Black Africa coach Brian Isaacs says his team will not go into the upcoming continental club competition just to make up the numbers, but plan to be serious contenders.
The Namibian treble champions will open their assault against South Africa premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs in the 1st leg scheduled for February 7 in South Africa with the return leg slated for Windhoek a week later.
Speaking to New Era Sport yesterday, Isaacs admitted that his charges have not of late delivered blistering performances in the domestic elite league as expected of the club, as they currently sit 3rd on the log. However, he maintained that their recent lukewarm performances would not dampen their spirits ahead of their crucial encounter against ‘Amakosi’, as Kaizer Chiefs are affectionately known amongst their loyal fans.
‘’This will be a very tough match for us because these two teams are not on the same level – Chiefs are professionals and we are amateurs but let’s not forget that Black Africa are also champions in their own right and that gives us every reason to rise to the occasion. My boys are ready and have been showing much confidence, so it’s now just a matter of fully preparing them mentally and physically well ahead of the match,’’ said a confident Isaacs whose team started with training yesterday at the Jan Mohr Secondary School in the capital.
Fifty-two clubs will be involved in the preliminary round of the African champions league and will later be joined by holders Al Ahly (Egypt), Coton Sport (Cameroon), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Hilal (Sudan), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) and Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) in round 16.
‘’As coach, it’s a honour playing against Chiefs but it also puts me in a tough position as I have to work harder to ensure all my players are ready and well conditioned to compete at the highest level of African club football,’’ added Isaacs, who is widely hailed for steering Black Africa to three successive league victories.
The winner of the CAF Champions League will qualify for the 2014 Fifa Club World Cup, a tournament contested between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations, and will also earn the right to play in the 2015 CAF Super Cup. The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition for African football leagues, which is the equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.
By Otniel Hembapu