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South Africa’s Orange CAF Champions League representatives, Kaizer Chiefs, take on Namibia’s Black Africa at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday in the first leg of the preliminary round eager to surpass their rivals Orlando Pirates’ runners-up finish last year.
Chiefs last played in Africa’s premier club competition in 2005 and will have a lot of pressure to do better than their fiercest rivals, Pirates who lost in the final to Egyptian giants, Al Ahly.
Stuart Baxter’s giants are 11 points clear at the summit of the Absa Premiership but the Chiefs mentor is not taking anything for granted against the Namibians.
“Our aim is to go as far as we can in this competition. Our myriad of supporters needs some African silverware and we are targeting the title.
“It would be folly however, to look beyond Black Africa as soccer has proven to be a funny game. They (Black Africa) have won the league title in Namibia for the past three years and that says something about them,” said Baxter ahead of the encounter at the 94 000-seater cauldron.
The ‘Glamour Boys’ have been in scintillating form this season brushing aside opposition with contempt.
Baxter, a former Bafana Bafana trainer said venturing into Africa was a different situation altogether.
“It comes with different dynamics and negotiating diverse environments. We however, need to win handsomely at home to make the second leg a formality,” added Baxter.
With an array of national team players, Chiefs appear far too strong for the Namibians but Baxter said this is the type of trap he would like to be wary of when his charges take to the field on the match day.
“Playing in the domestic league and going to play in Africa are completely two different scenarios and I have prepared my charges to be ready for the challenge.”
The Namibians are participating in Africa’s premier club competition for the first time since 1996, having pulled out previously due to financial constraints, but coach Brian Isaacs does not think this could be a huge disadvantage for his rookies.
“We are an unknown quantity to Chiefs but we watch them day-in-day-out on television and we know what to expect. On paper, we start this match as overwhelming underdogs and looking at the two sides’ line-up really does make an interesting reading,” added Isaacs.
He said the fact that most Chiefs players have played on big international stage puts the home side in a stronger position adding his charges were relishing the moment of causing a major upset.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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