LIGA KEEN TO BOSS MIDFIELD
Visitors respect Chiefs, United but not overawed
CAUTIOUS and respectful but without being overwhelmed, is the messages coming out of both Mozambique and Kenya as clubs from the two countries head to SA this weekend for African club competition matches.
Mozambique ’ s Liga Muculmana take on Kaizer Chiefs in Durban in the first leg of their African Champions League second-round tie, while AFC Leopards of Kenya are up against SuperSport United in Atteridgeville in the African Confederation Cup on Saturday. “We know the history of South African football, its evolution and its power, but that ’ s no reason not to strive to get as far as we possibly can in this competition, ” said Liga Muculmana coach Litos yesterday as his team prepared to travel across the border by bus later this week.
“The first leg will be important. We ’ ll try not conceding goals, which would be fabulous, because we know that we will be facing a team with excellent players,” he added, having slipped across to Johannesburg on a spying mission when Chiefs beat Bloemfontein Celtic 3-0 last week.
“We also have our weapons. The important thing is to avoid conceding goals and try to score away from home and then to be in a good position for the second leg in Maputo. ”
Litos, a former Portuguese international, said his study of Amakhosi meant he would not play as defensively as he did away in the first round where the Mozambicans eked out a 1-0 aggregate win over CNaPS Sport of Madagascar.
He feels Chiefs can be best battled in the heart of midfield.
But he is also not happy with the decision to play the return match on March 9 at Maputo ’ s new Zimpeto Stadium.
“This is not my desire, because I would like to have our supporters closer to us, to support us in our own stadium. In Zimpeto, the support we have received is not the same as when we are home in Matola. ”
Officials, however, think they will get a big crowd and therefore opted for the larger venue, which is outside the city limits.
There is a concern, however, over the yellow card tally at the club.
“We have six players with yellow cards [after just two Champions League matches], so we have to take some care but not also have to think about it all the time.”
Two cautions in the African club competition matches means an automatic one-match ban.
The Mozambicans will have to deal with the goalscoring prowess of Bernard Parker, who could prove a handful for the visitors.