African Stars look to further raise the bar
Football
The Sport Klub Windhoek stadium (SKW) was fully packed on Saturday as African Stars FC hosted Muza FC in their final friendly match before they face Zambia’s champion club Power Dynamos FC in the CAF Champions League on Friday 18 August in Johannesburg.Muza FC finished second behind Power Dynamos FC in the Zambia Super League, so this was set to be a tough and hopefully entertaining game.
Spectators’ high expectations were however short-lived, as the game ended 0-0.
African Stars captain Ronald Ketjijere in his post-match interview said: “CAF competition is a different level (from the local premier league). We could certainly feel that.
“In a game you might only get one good chance to score and you have to be clinical. But one game at a time, our focus is on Power Dynamos now.”
Ketjirere, the former national team captain, had a good game as he almost scored a goal in the first half with a low shot.
Muza FC’s defence looked solid, leaving very few chances to the likes of Willy Stephanus and Ibroihim Youssouf.
Muza head coach Mathews Ndhlovu used this encounter to prepare the Zambians for their CAF Confederation Cup first round first leg fixture against Cano Sport 19 August in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
African Stars’ head coach Prince George Koffie was not happy with the goalless draw either.
“Zero-zero should not have been the final score. We had some good few chances that the lads should have converted. We should have won this game!”
With the new Debmarine Premier League season looming and CAF Champions League game on the horizon African Stars FC have a lot to play for, Koffie said.
“This match has given us an insight as to what we should expect in the Champions League. Trust me, we will be ready for the challenge.”
African Stars have not lost any of their friendlies in the build-up to CAF competition, winning three and drawing two. Recent results seem to indicate that the team is ready to defend their Premier League title, as they also have their sights set on making their mark in the CAF Champions League.