Stars coach Johnson can’t wait for return to continental action
CAVAN Johnson says he is looking forward to returning to continental football when Platinum Stars take part in the Caf Confederation Cup next year.
Stars were drawn against Uniao do Songo from Mozambique in their preliminary round when the Confederation of African Football made the draw for the opening rounds of next year’s edition in Cairo on Wednesday.
Dikwena booked their ticket to the continent’s second-tier competition by finishing third in the Absa Premiership last season – behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns and runners-up Bidvest Wits.
“That’s an interesting time for us [the Confederation Cup] because I think a lot of the younger and fringe players will gain a lot of experience playing continental football‚” Johnson said after his team earned a 2-2 draw away at Highlands Park on Tuesday.
Johnson said his team would take the competition with the seriousness it deserved.
He was the head coach in 2008 when Stars became the first South African side to beat the mighty Egyptian club Al Ahly on South African soil.
Stars won a first-leg clash 2-1 at the Super Stadium (now the Lucas Moripe Stadium) during the third round of the African Champions League.
The result‚ however‚ only provided some short-lived success‚ as Stars lost the second leg 2-0‚ and were knocked out 3-2 on aggregate.
“I have been there before with Mamelodi Sundowns [as assistant coach]‚ and Platinum Stars. It’s always been a difficult ride, especially when you play the North African teams,” Johnson said.
“They have been playing in these tournaments for 30 or 40 years, they know how to win it, they know how to go to the next step.
“You always have to be clinical‚ you have to be a little bit more tactically astute‚ be better prepared, especially mentally.”
SuperSport United‚ who qualified for the competition as last season’s Nedbank Cup winners‚ were drawn against Madagascar club Elgeco Plus.
In the continent’s premier competition‚ the African Champions League‚ reigning champions Sundowns will start the defence of their title with a firstround meeting against either KCCA from Uganda or Primeiro de Agosto from Angola.
Last season’s league runnersup, Wits, open their Champions League campaign away at Reunion side AS Saint Louisianne‚ but will have the second leg at home.