NAPSA Stars football club head coach Mohamed Fathi has confirmed that he will be without the services of defender David Owino Odhiambo in today’s match as the team hosts Champions RS Berkane of Morocco.
Coach Fathi confirmed this in his pre-match interview held at Heroes Stadium yesterday that he will be without Odhiambo who has accumulated three yellow cards in the last three matches to see him suspended in today’s game which is scheduled for Heroes Stadium a 18:00hrs.
The pensioners who are debuting this competition, are going into this match with only a point in their Group B with RS Berkane being third on 5 points, JS Kabylie second with 6 points and Cotton Sport first with nine points.
If NAPSA Stars beats RS Berkane today, they will still have hope of fighting for second slot, but this will also depend on how other Group members in Coton Sport and JS Kabylie will perform in their match set for Cameroon this afternoon.
The Mohamed Fathi coached side has lost its three games in this Group against RS Berkane in the first leg, and Coton Sport both in the first and second leg. The point accumulated was against JS Kabylie in the first leg held in Lusaka.
Meanwhile Coach Fathi said he is still confident that his side will do its best to record maximum points in today’s game which is their last home game in this stage.
“We have injuries and a suspension, Odhiambo is suspended and Kabwe is injured. But we will work with what we have in tomorrow’s game (today’s game) because every player is looking at presenting themselves,” Fathi adds.
The team lost 2-0 in the first with coach saying his boys will fight to get a positive result today to make both the Sponsors and the Country proud.
RS Berkane Coach Juan Benali said a win today will put his team in a better position if they have to still have hope of retaining their title.
“It’s a very important match as a final if we have to stay in the race. We know it will not be easy Napsa is a good team with good players,” Coach benali said.
The match is set for 18hours at Heroes Stadium today.