Sfaxien coach cautious of unfamiliar SC Vipers
Sfaxien contingent arrive at Entebbe International Airport ahead of Saturday’s game against Vipers. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
Kampala- Pedigree and form play are so essential at this playoff stage of the Caf Confederations Cup.
Vipers cannot afford to pride in any at the moment but belief from their new coaches Michael Ouma and Edward Golola can go a long way in lifting them up tomorrow when they host four-time Caf Confederation Cup kings Sfaxien at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende.
“Our job is to win the first match. We have to take away the pressure because we are not intimidated by the Arabs. We have new style of play and we are ready for their time wasting tactics,” Ouma vowed after yesterday’s training session at St Mary’s Stadium.
When the 38-man Sfaxien contingent touched down at Entebbe Airport yesterday, their vastly experienced Dutch coach Rudolf Jozef Krol, 69, admitted he was clueless about Vipers, though he expected a ‘difficult match’ against them.
“It is the first time I have been in Uganda but the weather is nice; it is the starting point. Vipers is a good team it will be a difficult match.
“The journey from Tunis to Uganda of course will have an impact on the match but we hope we can have full recuperation by Saturday and can make a good result,” he told Daily Monitor.
Krol has been there and done that having had coaching spells with Mechelen, Servette, Netherlands U-21, Egypt, Zamalek, Al-Wahda Abu Dhabi, Netherlands (deputy), Ajax (deputy), Ajaccio, Zamalek, Orlando Pirates, CS Sfaxien, Tunisia, Espérance de Tunis, Al-Ahli Tripoli, Raja Club Athletic and Club Africain.
“It will be difficult for us on artificial turf because we use natural grass at home but we expect to assemble an attacking team.
“I don’t know much about them yet may be after reading Uganda newspapers in the next two days,” he added.
The overall winner after next week’s return leg will progress to the group stages.
Sfaxien at a glance
* Sfaxien Dutch coach Rudolf Jozef Krol, 69, played 83 matches for the national team as a left-back.
* He played for Ajax, Vancouver, Napoli and Cannes before retiring in 1986.
*Krol has coached at Mechelen, Servette, Netherlands U-21, Egypt, Zamalek, Al-Wahda Abu Dhabi, Netherlands (deputy), Ajax (deputy), Ajaccio, Zamalek, Orlando Pirates, CS Sfaxien, Tunisia, Espérance de Tunis, Al-Ahli Tripoli, Raja Club Athletic, Club Africain.
*CS Sfaxien are eight-time Tunisian league champions (1969, 1971, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1995, 2005, 2013).
