Times Of Swaziland: AS VITA AFCON STARS MISS LEOPARD CLASH

AS VITA AFCON STARS MISS LEOPARD CLASH
================================================================================
BY ASHMOND NZIMA  on 09/02/2017 04:27:00


SIKHUPHE – CAF Champions League envoys Royal Leopard’s opponents AS Vita’s
confidence levels are sky high despite parading a depleted side.
A 44-member delegation, made up of 24 players, arrived yesterday through the
King Mswati III International Airport in Sikhuphe ahead of the preliminary round
first leg showdown on Saturday.
However, AS Vita are minus gifted defender in DR Congo international Joyce
Lomalisa, who was voted into the 2016 Africa XI team, as well as Oscar Machapa
from Zimbabwe. They have been rested for the first leg after representing their
respective countries at the AFCON finals.
Led by celebrated coach, Florent Ibenge, who has just steered the DR Congo
national outfit to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations in Gabon,
they still stress on the importance of winning away to make the home leg a
formality.
Ibenge said Leopard would not be underestimated after winning 1-0 during the
2015 meeting in the second-tier tournament, the CAF Confederations Cup, but said
defeat was the last thing in his troops’ mind.
“We’re here for a win,” he bellowed.
“We know it won’t be easy, but we’re ready,” said Ibenge.
AS Vita still boast highly-rated stars, who have made a stop in the country for
the Leopard game. Left-footed Cameroon-born midfielder, Atouba Yazid, strudy
centre-back, and Obama Ondo Fransisco, are no ordinary players. The former was
competing in US’ Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2013.
“Leopard are a good side but we have to win the away leg to avoid pressure at
home. Our supporters can be demanding, so we need a cushion in the first leg,”
said skipper Lusadiso Basisila-Guy, who starred for the DR Congo side that won
the African Nations Championships (CHAN) in the past year.