Berekum Chelsea coach Johannes Van der Pluijm
Despite knowing he is playing against the most successful team in Africa, Berekum Chelsea coach Johannes van der Pluijm will be seeking a good result when his team faces Ahly in the third matchday of the CAF Champions’ League group stage on Saturday in Cairo.
“We have to get a good result; that is, either a win or draw. With that we will remain on course in the competition,” he was quoted as saying on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) official website.
“We have been preparing very well for this game, immediately after the game with TP Mazembe. Each player is available as there are no injuries or suspensions. It is the biggest and the decisive game. The outcome will be critical in determining how far we can go in the competition. We have to go all out,” he said.
The Ghana champions have emerged as the biggest surprise of this year’s CAF Champions League, beating the likes of Raja Casablanca and Cotonsport to reach the group stage.
Courtesy of sensational striker Emmanuel Clottey, who is the competition’s leading scorer with 11 goals so far, Chelsea are second in the group after beating Zamalek 3-2 at home and claiming a precious 2-2 away draw against TP Mazembe.
The six-time African Champions Ahly are on top of the group with two straight victories, and hope they can make it three wins out of three after Saturday’s game.
“Ahly have big names but names don’t play football. On a good day, when we put them under pressure, it will be very difficult for them to play. They beat TP Mazembe and we drew with the latter, so there’s no huge gap. We have to put in our all and prove to them that we can play. The most important thing is the players must be psychologically sound,” the coach concluded.
The hosts will be without inspirational trio playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika, striker Emad Meteb and right winger Ahmed Fathi who will be playing on the same day with Egypt U-23 against Japan in the Olympic Games.
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