Stars fired up
The Sam Nujoma Stadium will create a fierce atmosphere for South African football giants Orlando Pirates, when they clash with African Stars tomorrow.
African Stars aim to overcome favourites Orlando Pirates at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tomorrow, in the return leg of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary round match.
The match kicks off at 16:00 and Stars will be hoping to make football history by dispatching their more fancied rivals.
The two teams played to a goalless draw in South Africa, setting up a grand finale in Windhoek.
Orlando Pirates are 8/10 favourites among punters to end African Stars journey in the competition.
The odds definitely favour the Buccaneers, given their professional set-up and the fact that they have been tormenting teams in South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Stars will, however, feel they have the nation behind them, which could be the proverbial 12th man on the field for the Namibian club.
The Reds will certainly be brimming with confidence after their first-leg performance against a team that many feared would tear them asunder.
It is for this reason that many believe that African Stars can cause a huge upset on home soil.
Stars coach Bobby Samaria says his boys will play a fearless match.
“We are not there just to make up the numbers; I am positive that the boys are fired up and ready to prove a point.
“Stars are looking forward to this match and I can tell you that the whole nation is excited at the moment,” Samaria said.
Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele is optimistic that they can get the job done in Namibia.
“Ideally, we would have preferred to win the match at home convincingly, but we played against a good defensive side.
They were compact and well-organised at the back,” Jele told kickoff.com.
“It is true we missed a lot of chances and that is regrettable, but the flip side of that is that we played positive attacking football despite the defensive block we had to contend with.
“The fact that we were able to create chances tells us that it is possible to penetrate their defence and that is what we are preparing for,” the Pirates captain added.
With the conditions vastly different away from home, Pirates will have to adjust to the artificial turf, as well as the hot weather expected for the afternoon kickoff.
“We know it won't be a walk in the park, but we are prepared to fight and do whatever it takes to come out tops there.
“We have been training at the Nike Centre in Soweto this week in order to acclimatise to the conditions, because we know the match will be played on astro turf and in extremely hot conditions.
“We have done all we can to prepare adequately and now all that is left is to go and get the job done,” Jele added.
A win for the Namibian side against Pirates will guarantee them a place in the CAF Champions League group stages.
-Additional info by kickoff.com
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
The match kicks off at 16:00 and Stars will be hoping to make football history by dispatching their more fancied rivals.
The two teams played to a goalless draw in South Africa, setting up a grand finale in Windhoek.
Orlando Pirates are 8/10 favourites among punters to end African Stars journey in the competition.
The odds definitely favour the Buccaneers, given their professional set-up and the fact that they have been tormenting teams in South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Stars will, however, feel they have the nation behind them, which could be the proverbial 12th man on the field for the Namibian club.
The Reds will certainly be brimming with confidence after their first-leg performance against a team that many feared would tear them asunder.
It is for this reason that many believe that African Stars can cause a huge upset on home soil.
Stars coach Bobby Samaria says his boys will play a fearless match.
“We are not there just to make up the numbers; I am positive that the boys are fired up and ready to prove a point.
“Stars are looking forward to this match and I can tell you that the whole nation is excited at the moment,” Samaria said.
Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele is optimistic that they can get the job done in Namibia.
“Ideally, we would have preferred to win the match at home convincingly, but we played against a good defensive side.
They were compact and well-organised at the back,” Jele told kickoff.com.
“It is true we missed a lot of chances and that is regrettable, but the flip side of that is that we played positive attacking football despite the defensive block we had to contend with.
“The fact that we were able to create chances tells us that it is possible to penetrate their defence and that is what we are preparing for,” the Pirates captain added.
With the conditions vastly different away from home, Pirates will have to adjust to the artificial turf, as well as the hot weather expected for the afternoon kickoff.
“We know it won't be a walk in the park, but we are prepared to fight and do whatever it takes to come out tops there.
“We have been training at the Nike Centre in Soweto this week in order to acclimatise to the conditions, because we know the match will be played on astro turf and in extremely hot conditions.
“We have done all we can to prepare adequately and now all that is left is to go and get the job done,” Jele added.
A win for the Namibian side against Pirates will guarantee them a place in the CAF Champions League group stages.
-Additional info by kickoff.com
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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