As Azam FC fine-tune for Saturday’s preliminary
round return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup against Ferroviario de
Beira, assistant coach Kally Ongala says they are well prepared to
defend the 1-0 first leg win.
The team, comprising 21 players and five
officials, is expected to leave for Mozambique today for what promises
to be a nail-biting encounter, according to team manager, Jemedari Said.
“Winning the first leg gives us the cushion, but
we can’t afford to start thinking ahead of ourselves, it’s a narrow
lead,” said Said.
“We know that it will be a difficult game and away
from home, but we have beliefs and confidence in our play and hopefully
we can take that into Saturday’s game and get another win,” he added.
He named players who will make the trip as
goalkeepers Mwadini Ali Mwadini, Aishi Manula and Jackson Wandwi. Others
are defenders Lackson Kakolaki, Erasto Nyoni, Malika Ndeule, Aggrey
Morris, Said Mourad and David Mwantika.
Midfielders are Jabir Azizi, Ibrahim Mwaipopo,
Kipre Balou, Himid Mao, Salum Abubakar and Khamis Mcha. Also in the list
are strikers John Bocco, Kipre Tchetche, Brian Umony, Seif Abdallah,
Gaudence Mwaikimba and Ismael Kone.
Officials who will accompany the team include head
coach Joseph Marius Omog, goalkeepers’ trainer Iddi Abubakar, physician
Mwanandi Mwankemwa and his assistant Paul Gomez.
Azam, who are making their second appearance in
the continent’s second-tier Cup competition, need just a draw in
Saturday’s match to make it into the first round.
For his part, coach Omog observed that the win in
the first leg means the team goes to Maputo with something to defend in
the second leg.
While the ice-cream makers head to Mozambique
today, Mainland champions Young Africans are expected to leave for
Comoro tomorrow ahead of the second leg, preliminary round of the Africa
Champions League against Comorozine de Demon.
Yanga, who thrashed Comorozine de Demon 7- 0 in
the first leg at the National Stadium on Saturday, are on the verge of
the first round.
Should they bundle the Comoro team out of the
championship, the Jangwani Street boys will book a date with Al Ahly of
Egypt in the next stage.
